Newly elected Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija has ordered the immediate suspension of existing cases in the judiciary line-up, mandating priority to all election petitions and their subsequent appeals.
The directive was delivered during the closing ceremony of the 27th Annual Judges’ Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday, February 4th, 2025.
CJ Zeija referred to the upcoming period as “the season for Election Petitions,” pointing to the critical need for judicial efficiency to uphold democratic integrity.
“This is the season for Election Petitions and we shall have the Appeals arising from them. Let us give them the priority and attention they deserve and dispose of them within the timelines set within the law,” he stated.
According to Zeija, this mechanism is vital for providing public certainty that elected officials genuinely reflect the will of the people, a cornerstone for political stability and public trust in the electoral process.
The directive was set within the broader context of the conference’s theme, “Judicial Wellness, A Tool for Effective Case Management.”
CJ Zeija linked the capacity to handle such high-stakes, time-sensitive matters directly to the well-being of judicial officers.
The conference, organized by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) in partnership with the International Development Law Organization and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, focused on strengthening judges’ wellbeing as a foundation for productivity and timely justice.
In his remarks, the Chief Guest, Justice Minister Hon Norbert Mao, strongly supported the push for efficiency. He commended the judiciary’s commitment to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), noting that over-reliance on litigation leads to slow, costly, and stressful systems.
He reaffirmed the Ministry of Justice’s support for judicial reforms and training to change the litigation-focused mindset within the legal profession.
JTI Chairperson Justice Mike Chibita thanked the Chief Justice for his guidance in shaping the conference, noting the depth of presentations on judicial wellness.
On 28th January 2025, the Supreme Court in Kampala commenced the inter-parties hearing of the main petition challenging the election of President-elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni following January 15, 2026 presidential election.
The petition, Presidential Election Petition No. 1 of 2026, was filed by former presidential aspirant Robert Kasibante, who is asking the Court to nullify the election results on grounds of alleged non-compliance with electoral laws and electoral malpractices.
The petition is being heard by a panel of nine Justices led by the Chief Justice, Dr. Flavian Zeija, alongside Lady Justice Percy Night Tuhaise, Justice Mike Chibita, Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke, Justice Stephen Musota, Justice Christopher Madrama Izama, Lady Justice Dr. Catherine Bamugemereire, Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi, and Justice Kibeedi Muzamiru Mutangula.
