Kampala, (UG):- The Judicial Service Commission of Uganda Thursday confirmed the appointment of Dr Flavian Zeija as the new Deputy Chief Justice replacing Justice Richard Buteera, who is set to retire after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Dr Zeija’s appointment was confirmed in a press statement released on Thursday evening by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) along with several other key judicial appointments made by the President (who is the appointing authority).
Mr Museveni also appointed one Supreme Court Justice, 8 justices to the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court, and 21 High Court judges in acting capacity for a period of two years from the date of assumption of duty.
But Who is Dr Flavian Zeija?
Flavian Zeija is a Ugandan lawyer, academic and judge, on the High Court of Uganda, who until his appointment as Deputy Chief Justice on Thursday evening was the country’s Principal Judge, effective 25 December 2019.
In Uganda, a Principal Judge is responsible for supervising the justices of the High Court, including the assignment of duties to members of the Court. The Principal Judge is also responsible for supervising the Magistrates Courts below the High Court.
Early Life and Education
Zeija was born in Uganda on 18 February 1969. He attended St.Mary’s College Rushoroza for secondary education where he served as the Headprefect.
In 1993, Zeija was admitted to Makerere University, the oldest and largest public university in Uganda. He graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.
The following year, he obtained a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in Kampala.
In 1999, he returned to Makerere University and was admitted to the Master’s program in Law. He graduated with a Master of Laws degree in 2002. His degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Law, was awarded by the University of Dar es Salaam in 2013.
Zeija also holds a Master of Business Administration degree, obtained from the Uganda Martyrs University, in 2018. In addition, he is a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of the United Kingdom, with his membership dating back to 2012.
Judicial Career
Dr Zeija boasts of a wide experience as a practising attorney. He started out in 1998, as a legal assistant with Kwesigabo, Bamwine, Walubiri & Company Advocates, a Kampala-based law firm.
In the past, he worked at Tropical Africa Bank as manager legal and recovery, between 2002 and 2003. He also worked at FINCA Uganda Limited as legal counsel.
At the time he was appointed to the High Court of Uganda, he served as the managing partner at Zeija, Mukasa & Company Advocates, another Kampala-based law firm.
In addition to practising law, Dr Flavian Zeija taught law at Uganda Christian University, Makerere University and Makerere University Business School (MUBS). At MUBS he served as the founding head of the department of Business Law.
Zeija was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Uganda in 2016, and then assigned as the Resident Judge of Mbarara High Court Circuit, the largest circuit in the country.
While serving in that capacity, in December 2019, he was appointed to the Principal Judge assignment, a post he held until February 06, 2025, when he got elevated to be the Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda.
Notable Judgments
Notable among high-profile cases Justice Zeija handled was the September 2020 case (Kalemera H. Kimera vs Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II.
In his dismissal of the suit, the judge said that according to current Ugandan inheritance laws, a grandchild who is not expressly named in the will cannot contest the inheritance of a grandparent’s estate. Those who can contest are (a) the legitimate children of the deceased (b) the illegitimate children and (c) any adopted children of the deceased. The judge ordered the complainant to pay the respondents’ legal fees.
Justice Flavian Zeija is the father of five children.
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