President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Justice Moses Kaziibwe Kawumi as Uganda’s new deputy chief justice, ushering in another leadership transition at the peak of the judiciary amid growing pressure on courts to speed up case disposal and restore public confidence in the judicial system.

The appointment, announced in a State House press release issued on Thursday, May 14th, 2026, also saw Agnes Alum named as the new chief registrar, placing two new officials at the center of the country’s judicial administration.

“The Presidential Press Unit (PPU) would like to inform the general public that the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi as the new Deputy Chief Justice. President Museveni has also appointed Her Worship, Agnes Alum as the new Chief Registrar,” the statement read in part.

Justice Kawumi’s nomination comes at a critical time for the judiciary, which continues to grapple with a mounting case backlog, increasing constitutional petitions, and heightened scrutiny over politically sensitive rulings ahead of another intense electoral cycle.

If approved by Parliament, Kawumi will serve as head of the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court while deputizing Chief Justice Flavian Zeija in supervising the administration of courts across the country.

“The name of the new Deputy Chief Justice has been sent to Parliament, awaiting approval,” the statement read.

His appointment also marks another swift transition in the office of Deputy Chief Justice. Before Kawumi’s nomination, the position had been held by Justice Zeija, who took over following the retirement of Justice Richard Buteera after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Buteera had served as Deputy Chief Justice since 2020 after being appointed alongside Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo during one of the Judiciary’s biggest leadership reorganizations in recent years.

The appointment of Alum as Chief Registrar is equally significant within judicial circles because the office oversees the day-to-day administration of courts, deployment of judicial officers, and management of case flow across Uganda’s judicial system.

Her elevation comes at a time when court users, lawyers, and civil society organizations have increasingly raised concerns over delayed hearings, prolonged remand periods, and operational inefficiencies within lower courts.

The State House said the appointments are intended to strengthen justice administration and improve service delivery within the Judiciary.

The latest changes are expected to shape the direction of Uganda’s justice sector at a time when the courts remain central to resolving constitutional disputes, election-related petitions, and public interest litigation.