President Yoweri Museveni has made several new appointments to Uganda’s judiciary in a move likely to continue a trend where women hold a significant number of leadership positions across the courts. The most notable appointment is that of Justice Flavian Zeija as the Deputy Chief Justice, a position he will assume ahead of Justice Richard Buteera’s retirement from the Supreme Court in May. Justice Zeija has been the Principal Judge of the High Court, and he is now charged with overseeing most of the country’s judicial functions. His appointment comes at a time when the judiciary is expanding its capacity to manage the growing workload.

In yet another important appointment, Justice Muzamil Mutangula Kibeedi has joined the bench at the Supreme Court to fill the space left by Justice Esther Kisaakye, who went into exile last year. With Justice Kibeedi joining the bench, the Supreme Court looks set to steamroll some of the most complicated and high-stakes cases within the country’s judicial precedence. These appointments, which the President of Uganda confirmed on February 6, 2025, show the commitment of Uganda to an improved judiciary for the smooth and efficient administration of justice.

The President appointed eight new justices to the Court of Appeal, the most prominent being Musa Ssekaana, who is currently a judge in the High Court. Others include Lady Justices Ketra Kitariisibwa Katunguka, Sabiiti Cornelia Kakooza, Stella Alibateese, Florence Nakacwa, and Esta Nambayo. They are joined by Justices Jesse Byaruhanga Rugyema and John Mike Musisi. According to Ms. Maria Theresa Nabulya, the acting senior communications officer at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the appointments will ensure that appeals go through with the expertise and speed that the Courts of Uganda’s system require.

The President went ahead to name 21 acting judges to the High Court for a two-year term. These include Sarah Langa Siu, who was until December the Registrar of the Judiciary. Other women appointed as acting judges include other ace ladies like Lady Justices Rosemary Bareebe Ngabirano, Mary Babirye, Deepa Verma, Lillian Alum Omara, and Ida Nakiganda. The others are Mary Kaitesi Kisakye, Susan Odongo, Joanita Gertrude Bushara, Sarah Birungi Kalibbala, Flavia Grace Lamuno, and Fatuma Nanziri Bwanika.

The President also reappointed Lady Justice Faridah Shamilah Bukirwa, who had served as an acting judge of the High Court in Jinja before her highly publicized disputes with the judiciary. Her reappointment for a period of one year comes after the completion of her disciplinary proceedings. These new appointments are expected to enhance the capacity of the judiciary to improve access to justice and enhance the rule of law in Uganda.

Recent appointments have swelled the number of women in Uganda’s judiciary to such an extent that on one recent occasion of the delivery of judgment from the Supreme Court, four out of seven justices sat in the bench were women, which would have been five had Justice Kisaakye not gone into exile, and goes right down to the latest appointments at the Court of Appeal with five out of eight justices appointed. The High Court is also representative, with a high percentage of its newly appointed acting judges being women.

However, this would imply a positive progress toward gender balance within the Uganda judiciary system. This appointment has reflected the awareness of increasing participation by women contributing to the Bench and their proven ability to dispose of complex questions of law presented before them. These appointments carry with them, into the Courts, fresh blood, experience, and ideas which should ultimately positively contribute to better justice delivery to Ugandans.

The Judiciary plays a very important role in ensuring the rule of law, thereby giving the people their rightful access to justice. Such appointments of capable and experienced people into the office of judges are badly needed as a way of solving the many backlogs that have built over time. These appointments will increase confidence in the judiciary among members of the general public since such a move displays a commitment toward transparency, accountability, and equity.

However, the judiciary still has to grapple with a number of challenges, including limited resources, delays in case processing, and the need for continued reforms. The government should further invest in the judiciary by providing the necessary resources and support to enable it to effectively execute its mandate. This includes improving infrastructure, increasing the number of judges, and implementing technology to streamline court processes.

These appointments by President Museveni have sealed an important milestone in strengthening the bench within Uganda’s judiciary. As noted, several appointments were done and included women who reflect the interest of government on gender and issues of rule of law. It is therefore prepared to be confronted with rising cases with much experience and merit that have now been brought aboard into the Judiciary for dispensing justice to the Ugandan people. However, continued efforts are needed to address the challenges facing the judiciary and ensure that it remains a pillar of democracy and justice in the country.