KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Moses Kawumi Kazibwe as the new Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda, filling a vacancy left after the elevation of Flavian Zeija approximately three months ago.
The appointment was confirmed on Thursday 14, May 2026 in a statement issued by State House Uganda, which said the changes are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership within the country’s judiciary.
Justice Kazibwe, who has been serving at both the Court of Appeal of Uganda and the Constitutional Court, now assumes the second-highest judicial office in the country.
In his new role, he will deputise the Chief Justice and support the administration and oversight of judicial services nationwide.
In the same announcement, President Museveni appointed Agnes Alum as the new Chief Registrar of the High Court, replacing Sarah Langa Siu, who was recently elevated to the High Court bench.
The Chief Registrar plays a central administrative role in Uganda’s judiciary, overseeing court operations, case management systems, and overall judicial efficiency.
Justice Kazibwe’s elevation marks a steady rise through Uganda’s judicial ranks. He was first appointed as a High Court judge in May 2016, around the same period when Chief Justice Flavian Zeija joined the bench. Both have since progressed through senior judicial positions within a decade.
Before joining the appellate courts, Justice Kazibwe served as Resident Judge at the Mubende High Court Circuit, where he was credited with efforts to reduce case backlogs, improve access to justice, and introduce public engagement initiatives such as Court Open Days.
He previously served as presiding judge at the Kabale High Court Circuit before his transfer to Mubende in 2022.
At the Court of Appeal, Justice Kazibwe has taken part in special appellate sessions held in Kampala aimed at clearing long-standing criminal case backlogs through targeted case disposal programmes.
This reshuffle comes at a time when Uganda’s judiciary is under pressure to reduce case backlog, improve efficiency, and expand access to justice—challenges common across East Africa’s court systems.
Also Read: Museveni appoints former BBC journalist Alan Kasujja to lead Uganda Media Centre
The judiciary has in recent years prioritised backlog reduction initiatives, including special sitting courts and digital case management reforms, aimed at improving speed and transparency in judicial delivery.
Institutional strengthening of key offices such as the Deputy Chief Justice and Chief Registrar is widely seen as part of broader governance reforms within the Judiciary of Uganda, which continues to expand its administrative and appellate capacity.
Regional legal experts also note that East African judiciaries are increasingly focusing on efficiency reforms, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and digitisation of court records to ease pressure on appellate courts.
