Court of Appeal Session Kicks off in Fort Portal

Fort Portal– The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, has officially opened a Court of Appeal civil session in Fort Portal and called for stronger cooperation between the Bench and the Bar, greater uptake of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and sustained efforts to improve access to justice.

Court of Appeal building in Kampala.
The two-day session, which commenced yesterday and concluded today, June 18, 2026, heard a total of 30 civil appeals before a panel comprising Lady Justice Eva Luswata, Justice John Mike Musisi and Justice Musa Ssekaana.
Speaking during his maiden stakeholders’ engagement since assuming office, Justice Kazibwe thanked members of the Bar and other stakeholders for their congratulatory messages following
his appointment and expressed appreciation for their continued cooperation with the Judiciary.
He noted that the Court of Appeal’s regional sessions are intended to take appellate services closer to the people and reduce the financial burden on litigants who previously had to travel to Kampala to pursue appeals.
The Deputy Chief Justice also informed stakeholders that the Judiciary had experienced a significant reduction in its proposed budget allocation for the new financial year. While acknowledging that some planned activities would be affected, he assured participants that Judiciary management was taking measures to ensure courts across the country continue operating despite financial constraints.
Addressing the relationship between the Judiciary and the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Justice Kazibwe emphasized the need for continuous dialogue and cooperation.
“ULS and the Bench are actually twins; none can work well without cooperating with the other. On our side, we want to see a very smooth working relationship between us,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to address concerns affecting either institution through established communication channels and cautioned against public confrontations.
On mediation, Justice Kazibwe welcomed the Uganda Law Society’s efforts to resolve some of its disputes through mediation and urged legal practitioners to lead by example in promoting amicable settlement of disputes.
“The truth is it will be ridiculous for lawyers and the Judiciary to fail to mediate. If we are urging all others to mediate, we will not fail, and we all know the benefits of mediating,” he remarked.
He encouraged lawyers to continue promoting mediation, plea bargaining and other ADR mechanisms, noting that they enable disputes to be resolved more quickly, ease pressure on the courts, and allow judicial officers to concentrate on matters requiring adjudication.
Justice Kazibwe also welcomed the contribution of religious leaders in Fort Portal to mediation efforts and encouraged greater participation by clergy, imams and other faith leaders
in ADR initiatives.
Responding to concerns raised about delays in the disposal of appeals, including a matter handled during the session that was filed in 2012, the Deputy Chief Justice acknowledged the challenge and observed that prolonged litigation often deprives litigants of the benefits of timely justice.
On infrastructure development, he commended the Chairperson of Kabarole District for pledging land for the construction of a Regional Court of Appeal and noted that a permanent presence in the region would improve access to appellate services and respond to growing caseloads.
Justice Kazibwe further highlighted broader justice sector challenges, including staffing gaps in institutions such as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and stressed the need for all justice sector agencies to grow together in order to enhance service delivery.
Earlier, the Head of Fort Portal High Court Circuit, Justice Vincent Emmy Mugabo, congratulated the Deputy Chief Justice upon his appointment, describing it as recognition of his distinguished service and commitment to justice.