Kampala, Uganda: President Museveni has appointed Flavian Zeija as the new Chief Justice of Uganda, setting in motion the final parliamentary approval process following the retirement of Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, DailyExpress reports.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among confirmed on Thursday that the Appointments Committee of Parliament had already convened to vet Justice Zeija, who was formally nominated by the President to take over leadership of the Judiciary.
“Earlier today, we convened the Appointments Committee of Parliament to vet the Honourable Justice Flavian Zeija, who was appointed by His Excellency the President to serve as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Uganda,” Hon Among said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“The committee’s report will be forwarded to the appointing authority in accordance with our rules of procedure,” she added.
Justice Zeija’s appointment follows the recent retirement of Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo, who exited office after attaining the mandatory retirement age, bringing to a close a tenure marked by major constitutional decisions, judicial reforms, and high-profile political cases.
Until his appointment, Zeija had been serving as Deputy Chief Justice, a position he was appointed to in February last year. He has previously served as the High Court’s Principal Judge, Head of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court, and as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, earning a reputation as a firm, no-nonsense judicial officer with deep institutional experience.
Zeija, a highly respected lawyer, academic, and jurist, steps into the role as the country’s top judicial officer. Born on February 18, 1969, in Western Uganda, Zeija pursued his early education locally before joining Makerere University in 1993.
Museveni’s choice of Zeija, analysts say, is a preference for continuity and administrative discipline within the Judiciary at a time when courts are under heightened public scrutiny following the 2026 General Elections.
If approved by Parliament, Zeija will assume office as Uganda’s substantive Chief Justice, becoming the head of the Judiciary and chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission, with overall responsibility for judicial policy direction, administration of courts, and safeguarding judicial independence.
The Appointments Committee is expected to compile and submit its report to the President after concluding its vetting process, after which Justice Zeija’s appointment will be formally confirmed.
Owiny-Dollo’s retirement had triggered widespread speculation within legal and political circles over his successor, with several senior judges mentioned. The President’s nomination of Zeija now settles the succession question, subject to parliamentary clearance.
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