KAMPALA: The Judiciary has officially opened the New Law Year 2026 today, with Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo gracing the event on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
In his message, Museveni congratulated the Judiciary for the beginning of the New Year and underscored the pivotal role played by the judiciary in the socio-economic transformation of communities.
“Your Lordship the Chief Justice, I am happy to be once again a part of this occasion of the Opening of the New Law Year 2026. The Judiciary plays a very big role in the socio-economic transformation of our communities in line with the focus of the NRM Government; to develop Uganda through promoting wealth creation,” Museveni said.
He assured the judicial officers that the NRM Government is committed to fostering economic transformation through eradicating poverty, raising household incomes, and moving away from subsistence production to a market-oriented production and commodity value addition.
“As you are aware, the focus of the Government in the next five years under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) is a Ten-fold Growth Strategy which includes prioritizing Agro-Industrialization, Tourism development, Science, Technology, Innovation (including ICT and the creative industry); and natural resources like mineral-based industrial development (including oil and gas),” the president said.
He added that these have a number of enablers such as protection of wildlife resources, environment, energy, preventing and containing climate change as well as infrastructure and human capital development.
Museveni explained that all these critical areas involve land, investment and transport infrastructure which are prone to disputes. “We therefore need a supportive Judiciary that will quickly resolve disputes and liberate these key factors of production for further use and re-use,” he said.
The president further stressed that, a supportive judiciary is also important for the success of the Parish Development Model so that land and other resources necessary for production are not made redundant due to disputes.
He therefore urged the Judiciary to position itself to be more creative, innovative and strategic in devising mechanisms for quicker resolution of disputes to avoid frustrating our people and our investors; and also to promote harmony and reconciliation among the disputing parties, heathy for peace building and co-existence.
He applauded the Judiciary for expanding the coverage of Courts across the country in order to deliver services efficiently and effectively. “This contributes greatly to the preservation of peace and security when people know that they can receive justice quickly, fairly and cheaply,” he said.
The Judiciary, through its Transformation Agenda, recently gazetted 38 High Court Circuits and 08 Court of Appeal Circuits across the Country in order to bring Court services nearer to the people. Every district was gazetted as a Magisterial Area with a Chief Magistrates Court and a Magistrate Grade I Court at every County/Constituency.
Museveni said the above development is truly very impressive because it shows focus and visionary leadership in the Judiciary. He undertook to support the operationalisation of these Courts so that we provide our people with cheap and accessible justice.
The president also called for professionalism and commitment of the lawyers or advocates saying they play a key role in ensuring that justice is delivered to our clients and the people of Uganda very quickly and fairly. “You must therefore be committed, act professionally, conduct yourselves ethically and be available when required to help the courts resolve the disputes expeditiously,” he said.
The fountain of Honour further urged the judicial officers to embrace and promote alternative dispute resolution including reconciliation in resolving cases which can help in eliminating case backlog.
He stressed that Lawyers must not be the cause of delayed justice by playing delaying tactics and behaving unprofessionally.
He thanked the people of Uganda for giving him and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government another five-year term to serve the people of Uganda through the recently concluded general elections.
He also congratulated His Lordship the new Chief Justice Hon. Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija upon his appointment. “I have confidence in you to continue with the transformation of the Judiciary and promotion of a harmonious working relationship with the executive for the good of our people,” Museveni said.
He equally congratulated Hon. Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny – Dollo, the Chief Justice Emeritus upon his retirement; and more so for his committed, transformative and exemplary leadership during his time as the head of the Judiciary.
The president lauded the retired Chief justice for working so well and championing the alternative dispute resolution and the Judiciary Transformation Agenda.
