Uganda’s Judiciary: Why Bigirimana’s reform agenda deserves recognition

By Ben Ssebuguzi

The views expressed in this article are those of the author.

I have read reports in the media that the Public Service is undertaking fresh performance reviews and vetting of Permanent Secretaries across the country. In my view, Dr Pius Bigirimana is not just a public servant but a reform-minded leader whose contribution to the transformation of Uganda’s Judiciary deserves recognition.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni deserves commendation for appointing capable public servants to steer critical government institutions. Dr Bigirimana’s tenure at the Judiciary provides an opportunity to examine how administrative leadership, institutional reforms and innovation can contribute to improved public service delivery.

In April 2026, Dr Bigirimana was recognised by Public Opinions with the Responsible Investment Global Award as Uganda Judicial Reforms Champion for his contribution to judicial reforms. His work at the Judiciary continues to attract attention, particularly in areas involving technology, institutional management and access to justice.

More recently, the Judiciary was included among the 12 public institutions recognised by Public Opinions in its 2026 Responsible Investment Global Awards initiative. The organisation named the Judiciary Uganda Human Rights Champion, citing its public service contribution and institutional performance.

According to the published recognition, the assessment involved more than 100 government agencies, with 12 institutions meeting the organisation’s stated performance threshold. The Judiciary’s recognition is an encouraging development, although such awards should be considered alongside independent institutional performance assessments and the experiences of ordinary court users.

Public Opinions also deserves recognition for its efforts to create public awareness about government institutions and their performance.

Against this background, if I were assessing public sector leadership, I would award the Judiciary’s leadership a distinction for the reforms, innovations and initiatives that have contributed to improving the administration of justice.

There are several areas that, in my view, deserve particular recognition.

1. Turning institutional space into a public communication platform

The branding of the Judiciary’s perimeter wall demonstrates an appreciation of the importance of public communication and institutional identity. Government institutions should not only perform their statutory functions but also communicate their mandate, values and responsibilities to the citizens they serve.

By transforming previously underutilised space into a platform for public awareness and civic education, the Judiciary demonstrates how even ordinary institutional facilities can be used to communicate its mission, vision and commitment to justice. It is a creative initiative that, in my opinion, deserves recognition.

2. A clean and organised working environment

One of the first things visitors notice when they enter well-maintained Judiciary premises is the organised environment. This reflects the contribution of staff at different levels, from cleaning personnel and support workers to administrators and senior management.

While some employees attend important boardroom meetings, others are engaged in assisting court users, maintaining facilities and carrying out the daily responsibilities that keep the institution functioning. Institutional transformation should not be measured only through major policy decisions. The everyday experiences of citizens who visit government offices also matter.

A clean, organised and welcoming environment communicates professionalism and respect for the public.

3. Strengthening the culture of customer service

The Judiciary’s customer service culture is another area that deserves attention. From the entrance gate to the courtrooms, employees play an important role in shaping how members of the public perceive the institution.

Courtesy, effective communication and a professional attitude can make a significant difference to people seeking justice, many of whom approach court premises during difficult and stressful circumstances.

Access to justice should not only mean having the legal right to approach a court. It should also involve being treated with dignity and receiving clear information about the processes involved. A welcoming and professional environment helps build public confidence in the institution.

4. Promoting alternative dispute resolution and restorative justice

The promotion of mediation, plea bargaining, reconciliation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution is another important development in Uganda’s justice system. These approaches provide opportunities to resolve certain disputes without necessarily going through lengthy conventional court proceedings.

Mediation, for instance, can help parties reach mutually acceptable settlements, preserve relationships and reduce the time and resources spent on litigation. Plea bargaining can also facilitate the disposal of criminal cases where the legal requirements are met, while restorative justice approaches encourage accountability and reconciliation.

These interventions can contribute to reducing case backlogs and making justice more accessible, provided that the rights of all parties are protected and the processes remain fair.

The Ministry of Finance’s January 2026 MIND update reported that courts completed 6,803 mediation cases out of 10,401 mediation cases handled during FY2024/25. It also reported that 3,760 cases were completed through plea bargaining during the same financial year.

Such figures demonstrate the growing role of alternative approaches in the administration of justice.

5. Embracing digital transformation through ECCMIS

The introduction and expansion of the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) represents an important step towards modernising the administration of justice.

The system supports electronic filing, digital case records and improved tracking of court proceedings. It also allows authorised participants, including judicial officers, advocates and court staff, to access and take action on case files electronically.

Technology can reduce unnecessary physical movement of files, improve record management and make court processes more transparent.

It can also reduce some opportunities for corruption associated with manual handling of documents and case files, although technology must be accompanied by strong oversight, cybersecurity and accountability measures.

According to the government’s January 2026 MIND update, ECCMIS had been rolled out in 23 of Uganda’s 236 court stations, with digital kiosks operational at those locations. This demonstrates progress, while also showing that the country still has considerable work to do to achieve nationwide digitalisation.

The reported improvements in court filings and case completion attributed to digital reforms are encouraging. However, such performance figures should be assessed against the Judiciary’s official annual reports to establish the precise indicators, reporting periods and contribution of ECCMIS.

6. Expanding the Small Claims Procedure

The strengthening of the Small Claims Procedure is another important intervention in improving access to justice, particularly for individuals and small businesses involved in relatively low-value commercial disputes.

Small-scale entrepreneurs may struggle to pursue claims through lengthy and expensive legal processes. A simplified procedure can provide a more accessible avenue for resolving qualifying disputes. This is important for traders, suppliers, service providers and other small businesses that depend on timely payments to sustain their operations.

The Judiciary has previously reported expanding the Small Claims Procedure to 203 courts, resulting in the resolution of 23,567 cases and recovery of approximately Shs17.99 billion in claims.

These figures demonstrate the potential contribution of simplified dispute resolution to commercial confidence and economic activity.

7. Bringing judicial services closer to the people

The reported increase in the number of magisterial areas from 82 to 157 is a significant development in expanding geographical access to justice. For many Ugandans, distance and transport costs can make accessing judicial services difficult.

The expansion of magisterial areas brings services closer to communities, reduces the need for some court users to travel long distances and creates opportunities for more people to pursue legal remedies.

The government’s January 2026 MIND update also reported that statutory interventions had increased magisterial areas from 80 to 157. This expansion should be accompanied by adequate staffing, funding, court facilities and equipment to ensure that the new areas deliver meaningful services.

8. Taking justice closer to the people through special court sessions

The mobile High Court proceedings in the case involving Christopher Okello Onyum, who was convicted of murdering four children at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre, demonstrated the potential of taking certain court proceedings closer to affected communities.

The proceedings were conducted at Ggaba Community Church, close to the location of the tragedy, allowing members of the affected community and other interested citizens to follow the trial.

On April 30, 2026, the High Court convicted Onyum on four counts of murder and sentenced him to death. The conviction and sentence subsequently became subject to an appeal.

The use of a mobile court in such a high-profile case highlighted the Judiciary’s ability to bring proceedings outside conventional court premises while maintaining formal judicial processes.

However, public access to court proceedings must always be balanced with the rights of the accused, the independence of the court and the need for a fair trial. The wider value of mobile courts lies in their potential to improve access to justice, particularly in communities that may otherwise face significant geographical barriers.

9. Strengthening accountability and the Inspectorate of Courts

The strengthening of the Inspectorate of Courts through reporting channels, surveillance systems and other oversight mechanisms demonstrates an important commitment to institutional accountability.

Members of the public should have accessible and reliable ways of reporting misconduct, corruption and poor service delivery within the justice system. Toll-free reporting channels can help citizens raise concerns, while surveillance systems may strengthen monitoring and accountability within court premises.

However, these measures must be supported by effective investigations, timely responses to complaints and appropriate disciplinary action where wrongdoing is established. The public must have confidence that reports of misconduct are taken seriously and that no individual is above institutional accountability.

10. Investing in modern judicial infrastructure

The development of modern judicial infrastructure, including the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal buildings in Kampala, alongside the construction and improvement of regional court facilities, demonstrates an important commitment to strengthening the Judiciary’s institutional capacity.

Modern facilities provide a more conducive working environment for judicial officers and support staff while improving the experience of court users. The construction and improvement of regional court buildings are equally important because access to justice should not be concentrated in the capital.

Government investment in judicial infrastructure must therefore continue, alongside recruitment of adequate personnel, provision of equipment and improved operational funding.

Recognition must go hand in hand with accountability

In appreciating these developments, it is equally important to recognise that institutional transformation is an ongoing process. Uganda’s Judiciary continues to face challenges involving case backlogs, staffing shortages, infrastructure gaps and public concerns about corruption.

The Auditor General’s report for FY2024/25, for example, identified 190,793 pending cases, including 46,181 cases that had remained pending for more than two years. These figures remind us that while reforms are producing important developments, much more work remains to ensure that justice is delivered promptly and efficiently to all Ugandans. Recognition should therefore encourage even greater commitment to addressing the remaining challenges.

I take this opportunity to recognise and appreciate Dr Pius Bigirimana, the Accounting Officer and Permanent Secretary of the Judiciary, for his contribution to the institution’s administrative reforms, innovations and service delivery initiatives. His recognition through the 2026 Responsible Investment Global Award is an encouraging development, and I believe that the Judiciary’s ongoing transformation deserves continued attention.

I also commend President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for emphasising the importance of performance, accountability and efficient public service delivery. Uganda needs public servants who understand that government institutions exist to serve citizens and that taxpayers’ resources must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

We should encourage the continued recognition and retention of hardworking, innovative and accountable public servants who demonstrate commitment to institutional improvement.

At the same time, performance reviews should remain objective, transparent and evidence-based. Public servants should be assessed not merely on the awards they receive or the appearance of their institutions, but also on measurable results, integrity, efficiency and the actual experiences of the citizens they serve.

Uganda needs leaders who embrace innovation, accountability, efficiency and a results-oriented approach to institutional management while remaining firmly committed to serving ordinary citizens. Long live General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni! Long live Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo

The author is Research Officer, Office of the NRM National Chairman.