Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija has urged judicial officers to embrace peer supervision as a way of promoting integrity, accountability and discipline within the Judiciary.
Dr Zeija made the call while launching peer committees established to allow judicial officers to advise, support and hold each other accountable before professional misconduct leads to disciplinary action.
The committees were established under Regulations 18 to 21 of the Administration of the Judiciary (Inspectorate of Courts) Regulations, 2023.
Dr Zeija said the initiative is important because recent visits to courts across the country have revealed cases of absenteeism, poor performance and conduct that falls short of the expected standards.
He cited an incident at Amudat where he reportedly found a judicial officer had been away from court for about a month and had left the court keys with a cleaner at the State Attorney’s chambers.
He also said some court users have become accustomed to magistrates arriving late at work, with some reportedly not reporting until midday.
According to the Chief Justice, such behaviour delays justice and undermines public confidence in the Judiciary.
He said the peer committees should help identify such problems early and provide counselling and support before formal disciplinary measures are considered.
Dr Zeija cautioned that the committees should not become platforms for witch-hunting, victimisation or gossip.
He said issues such as alcohol or drug abuse should, where appropriate, be addressed through counselling and treatment, rather than immediately resorting to disciplinary action.
He also urged the committees to pay attention to the mental health and general wellbeing of judicial officers, noting that personal challenges can affect their performance and decision-making.
Dr Zeija warned that corruption, laziness and persistent absenteeism affect the reputation of the entire Judiciary.
He directed the committees to identify performance and training gaps, organise relevant training and keep records of their activities.
The committees will also be required to submit quarterly reports on their work.
Justice Stephen Musota, the Chief Inspector of Courts, said the committees were constituted in February 2026 and bring together judicial officers of the same rank and geographical location.
He said they are intended to promote mentorship, collegiality and accountability while providing a platform for judicial officers to address professional challenges.
Lady Justice Monica Mugenyi, Chairperson of the Judiciary Integrity Committee, said the idea of peer committees dates back to the Sixth Annual Judges’ Conference held in January 2003.
She said the initiative has now been formally incorporated into the Judiciary’s regulations.
Justice Mugenyi stressed that the committees are not disciplinary bodies, but are meant to provide ethical guidance, professional support and mentorship.
Under the regulations, each committee should have no more than seven Judiciary staff members of the same rank and from the same geographical area, including a chairperson and secretary.
The committees are expected to counsel colleagues whose conduct is considered unbecoming, promote integrity, advise judicial officers on professional conduct, hold meetings and submit recommendations to the Registrar and Inspectorate of Courts.
The Judiciary says the initiative is expected to strengthen accountability, reduce case backlogs and improve public confidence in the justice system.
