Chief Justice Flavian Zeija has called for closer coordination between Uganda’s national development plans and government funding, saying ambitious economic targets will remain difficult to achieve unless institutions receive the resources needed to deliver on their mandates.Zeija made the call when he met a delegation from the National Planning Authority (NPA), led by its Chairperson, Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, at the Supreme Court in Kampala.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the role of the justice sector in Uganda’s economic transformation and the need for stronger cooperation among key government institutions.According to the Chief Justice, justice is not only about resolving disputes but is also an important foundation for economic growth. He said a reliable and efficient justice system creates confidence for investors, supports businesses, promotes social stability and contributes to sustainable national development.Zeija said the Judiciary should therefore be more closely involved in national planning and resource allocation discussions. He recalled that the NPA had written to the Judiciary in June 2026 inviting it to identify priority areas that require attention as Uganda works to implement the Ten-Fold Growth Strategy and the long-term Vision 2040 agenda.He also referred to the Administration of Justice Programme Leadership Committee meeting held on July 31, 2026, which brought together government officials, development partners and United Nations agencies to examine obstacles affecting the justice chain. Zeija said the participation of the Minister of State for Planning offered hope for greater budgetary support for the sector in the coming financial cycle.The Chief Justice commended the NPA for helping government institutions align their programmes with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which covers the 2025/26 to 2029/30 period. He also recognised the Authority’s contribution to establishing the Administration of Justice Programme as an independent programme under the Third National Development Plan.Zeija stressed that effective justice delivery depends on close cooperation among institutions rather than individual efforts.
He said the Police, prosecutors, courts and prisons form one interconnected chain, meaning weaknesses in one institution can affect the performance of the entire justice system.He pointed to improvements already recorded, including a major reduction in the case backlog from 70.36 per cent in 2023/24 to 24.74 per cent by the close of 2025/26. He said alternative dispute resolution had also helped settle more than 7,418 disputes, while the Small Claims Procedure disposed of 27,101 cases and helped unlock about Shs20.4 billion in the economy. Zeija said such progress demonstrates why continued investment, proper planning and adequate funding are essential for a stronger justice system and Uganda’s wider economic transformation
