President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officiated the thanksgiving ceremony of the retired Chief Justice of Uganda, His Lordship Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, held at Patong Town Council in Agago District.
The ceremony, attended today 14th March 2026 by national leaders, cultural and religious figures, family members, friends, and members of the public, was organized to honor Owiny-Dollo for his distinguished service to the nation and his contributions to strengthening the administration of justice in Uganda.
The event drew large crowds from across the country, particularly from the Acholi sub-region, who gathered to celebrate the retired Chief Justice’s legacy of integrity, commitment to the rule of law, and efforts toward national unity and reconciliation.
In his address, President Museveni congratulated Owiny-Dollo on the recognition accorded to him by his community, describing the honour as a fitting tribute to a leader who served the country with dedication and patriotism.
The President commended the people of Acholi for recognizing leaders who have played a significant role in building strong national institutions and promoting peace and unity across the country.
Museveni particularly praised Owiny-Dollo for three key contributions to national development.
First, he highlighted his integrity in public service, noting that despite widespread concerns about corruption in some sectors, he had never heard Owiny-Dollo associated with corrupt practices.
Second, the President recognized his role in strengthening Uganda’s judiciary, especially through his support for the expansion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms aimed at reducing court case backlog and improving access to justice.
Third, Museveni applauded Owiny-Dollo’s role in promoting unity and reconciliation in Northern Uganda during the region’s recovery from years of conflict.
“Through fairness in the judiciary and commitment to reconciliation, Owiny-Dollo has set a standard of leadership that inspires the entire nation,” President Museveni stated.
Using the occasion to emphasize economic transformation, the President urged households across the country to engage in productive activities that generate sustainable income.
He encouraged small-scale enterprises suited for households with limited land, including poultry farming for egg production, dairy farming, coffee growing, fruit cultivation, and fish farming.
“Small-scale farming is the backbone of national development; when households thrive, the nation thrives too,’’ the President said.
According to President Museveni, Uganda is prioritizing intensive agriculture, yet crops such as cotton, maize, sugarcane, and rubber demand large land areas and are often unsuitable for smallholder households.
Museveni also emphasized the importance of producing for markets, cautioning against encouraging farmers to grow commodities without assured demand.
He said Uganda should take advantage of expanding markets within the East African Community and across the African continent while guiding farmers toward enterprises that guarantee stable incomes.
“The future of farming in Uganda lies in producing for real markets, taking advantage of regional and continental opportunities,” President Museveni added.
The President noted that Uganda’s economic transformation will largely be driven by millions of small-scale producers working collectively across the country.
He cited examples from the Masaka sub-region, where smallholder farmers have significantly increased production of commodities such as coffee and milk.
President Museveni concluded by encouraging leaders and communities across the country to continue working together to strengthen institutions, promote unity, and accelerate Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
Meanwhile, retired Chief Justice Emeritus Owiny-Dollo expressed deep gratitude to Museveni for attending the ceremony and for his longstanding support to Northern Uganda.
He particularly thanked the President for the role he played in restoring peace and stability in the region following years of conflict, noting that the peace had enabled communities to rebuild their lives, pursue education, and strengthen institutions.
“Peace is the foundation for progress; we are grateful to the President for helping our communities recover, rebuild, and move forward,’’ the former Chief Justice stated.
Looking ahead, Owiny-Dollo said his next major focus would be championing community revival and wealth creation across the Acholi sub-region.
He observed that decades of conflict left many households economically disadvantaged and called on communities to shift focus from past grievances to rebuilding livelihoods through productive economic activities.
The retired Chief Justice emphasized the need for people-centered wealth creation initiatives, including the productive use of large tracts of idle land and the adoption of community-led mechanized agriculture.
He noted that ongoing efforts supported by Operation Wealth Creation, under the leadership of Salim Saleh, had already begun supporting agricultural mechanization in the region.
“Productive use of land and mechanized farming are key to lifting households out of poverty and driving regional development,” the retired chief justice emphasized.
Owiny-Dollo also proposed the establishment of an irrigation scheme at Agoro to boost agricultural productivity and urged government to review the impact of socio-economic empowerment funds previously injected into Northern Uganda to ensure they achieve their intended outcomes.
He further called upon political, cultural, and community leaders across Acholi to take responsibility for driving socio-economic transformation in their respective areas, suggesting that local by-laws could help encourage households to actively participate in wealth creation initiatives.
“Our leaders must lead initiatives that turn resources, land, and local potential into tangible economic growth for every household,” Owiny-Dollo added.
Other speakers at the ceremony also praised Owiny-Dollo’s leadership, noting that throughout his career he remained committed to fairness, justice, and service to the nation.
The ceremony featured traditional Acholi cultural performances, prayers, and tributes from leaders and community members, reflecting the deep respect and appreciation the community holds for the former Chief Justice.
The event closed on a note of hope and unity, with the Acholi community reaffirming its commitment to rebuilding livelihoods, strengthening institutions, and contributing to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
