The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, last evening officially closed the two-day High-Level Summit on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), held at the Speke Resort Munyonyo, applauding participants for their vibrant engagement and commitment to promoting timely and community-driven justice. He presented certificates of participation and urged the attendees to become ambassadors of ADR and AJS in their respective institutions and communities.
Organised by the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) with support from the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the Summit brought together Judicial Officers, religious and cultural leaders, prosecutors, development partners, and justice reform advocates from across the country. Themed “Structuring AJS to Achieve Timely, People-Centered Justice in Land and Commercial Matters,” the Summit provided a platform for dialogue, learning, and policy innovation around integrating community-based justice into the formal system.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Justice, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo, engaged participants in an interactive session, reaffirming his strong support for AJS. He described it as a culturally grounded and socially responsive model of justice that prioritizes healing and accountability. The Chief Justice emphasized that AJS is not a substitute for justice, but rather a restoration of indigenous practices that were disrupted by colonial legal systems. He underscored the importance of synergy between formal and informal mechanisms, citing plea bargaining as a working example of integration.
He further called for national coordination through the establishment of an AJS policy framework, regional stakeholder consultations, and a National AJS Implementation Committee led by the JTI. Drawing from his personal experiences, he highlighted the critical role of women in land dispute resolution and the inherent justice structures embedded within Uganda’s traditional governance systems.
The keynote speaker, Justice Prof. Joel Ngugi of the Court of Appeal of Kenya, provided lessons from Kenya’s implementation of AJS. He emphasized the need for fairness, neutrality, and trust in community-based justice systems. Prof. Ngugi cautioned against politicization and elite capture of AJS, and instead encouraged processes that reflect community values and respect fundamental human rights.
Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions, made a presentation on the relevance of AJS in underserved regions like Karamoja, where local resolution mechanisms are often the first—and sometimes only—resort for justice seekers. She stressed the importance of respecting human rights within informal processes and recognized the limitations of prosecutorial resources in reaching every case.
Her remarks reinforced the call for collaboration between formal and informal justice actors.
Ms. Barbara Kilei, the Country Manager at IDLO, led a technical session on applying the principles of natural justice within AJS processes. She highlighted transparency, impartiality, and inclusive participation as essential to legitimacy and effectiveness. Participants then engaged in group discussions that produced key resolutions, including the formulation of a national policy framework on AJS, transformation of summit participants into a National AJS Movement, national stakeholder engagement on AJS policy, the creation of a National AJS Implementation Committee, court-level case diversion to AJS, and coordination of AJS efforts by JTI.
In his closing address, Justice Zeija thanked the Chief Justice for officially opening the Summit and participating actively in its discussions. He also acknowledged the foundational leadership of Deputy Chief Justice Emeritus, Justice Richard Buteera, and expressed deep appreciation to the keynote speaker and presenters
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