President Museveni Presides Over Swearing-In of Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi

ENTEBBE, UGANDA –
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday presided over the swearing-in ceremony of Uganda’s newly appointed Deputy Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, at State House Entebbe.

During the ceremony, President Museveni congratulated Justice Kazibwe on his appointment and commended Chief Justice Flavian Zeija for his efforts to combat corruption and improve efficiency within the Judiciary.

“I congratulate the Deputy Chief Justice, Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, and I also salute the aggressive spirit of the Chief Justice in fighting corruption,” President Museveni said.

The President reflected on challenges that existed within Uganda’s judicial system before the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power, highlighting corruption and an excessive focus on technical procedures over substantive justice.

“When we were fighting in the bush, we had two major problems with the judicial system. One was corruption in the courts, where people could influence outcomes through bribery. The second was the lack of substance, where too much time was spent on procedures rather than delivering justice,” he noted.

President Museveni also praised traditional African justice systems, describing them as a blend of punitive and restorative approaches that promoted reconciliation and social harmony.

“Our traditional system was both retributive and restorative. It ensured justice while maintaining social harmony through accountability, reconciliation and forgiveness,” he said.

The President welcomed ongoing judicial reforms aimed at fighting corruption and expanding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, which he said help reduce case backlogs and save time and resources.

“I am glad that you are making progress in fighting corruption and addressing the issue of lack of substance in judicial processes. I am also happy with the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution,” he added.

President Museveni further expressed satisfaction with the emergence of a younger generation of judicial officers, describing it as a positive development for the country’s justice sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Justice Flavian Zeija congratulated President Museveni on his recent re-election and thanked him for ensuring timely appointments to fill vacancies within the Judiciary.

According to the Chief Justice, prompt appointments have strengthened service delivery and improved access to justice across the country.

He also congratulated Justice Kazibwe on his appointment and urged him to continue implementing reforms initiated during his tenure as Deputy Chief Justice.

“I left that office as a paperless court. I encourage you to continue with the digitisation agenda and strengthen the systems we have put in place,” Chief Justice Zeija said.

The Chief Justice highlighted ongoing efforts to establish an integrated judicial management system that will connect courts nationwide and improve operational efficiency.

He also emphasized the need for transparency in case allocation and listing, noting that inconsistent practices in the past had created opportunities for corruption.

“There must be a clear and transparent criterion for case allocation and listing. Cases should be handled fairly and according to established procedures,” he said.

Chief Justice Zeija further proposed the creation of a specialized unit to handle environmental and infrastructure-related disputes, citing the growing importance of environmental justice in national development.

In his remarks, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi expressed gratitude to President Museveni for entrusting him with the responsibility of serving in one of Uganda’s highest judicial offices.

“I am deeply grateful for the appointment, Your Excellency, and I will work tirelessly to serve the people of Uganda and uphold the Constitution,” he said.

Justice Kazibwe pledged to strengthen institutional systems within the Judiciary, embrace technology, and support ongoing digital transformation efforts. He also committed himself to supporting the fight against corruption within the justice sector.

Before his appointment, Justice Kazibwe served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Attorney General Sam Mayanja, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao, Judiciary commissioners, and other senior judicial officers.

Reported by: Issa Kigongo | Channel44 TV.

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