Delegates who attended Dr. Flavian Zeija’s swearing in take picture with the President at State House Nakasero
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I President Yoweri Museveni has called for judicial reforms and ordered a thorough investigation into a controversial land eviction in Kiboga District, which he described as a form of injustice.
He warned against the growing trend of individuals usurping state power and bypassing legal procedures, especially when dealing with land matters.
“This kind of lawlessness is dangerous,” the President said, adding: “We must protect our people from injustice, especially when the system appears to side with the wrongdoer,” he added.
The President made the remarks during the swearing in of the Deputy Chief Justice, Dr. Flavian Zeija, at State House Entebbe.
Speaking about the land dispute in Kiboga, he narrated how he was compelled to personally intervene after learning of the eviction of a farmer, Badiru Mwanje, by a man identified as Ainebyona.
“I was in Masindi on my tours when I saw on TV that a boy had evicted a man from a fully developed farm with permanent structures. I went to the scene myself and found armed men occupying the farm. The court had ruled to maintain the status quo but the status quo was established by the invader. How could that be?” he wondered.
Describing the act as unjust and elitist, the President called on the Acting Principal Judge to investigate the magistrate involved in the case.
“Who authorized the eviction? This is not justice. I appeal to the judiciary to take this matter seriously,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Justice, Dr. Flavian Zeija with his family and President Museveni after the swearing in
He reiterated that even the Head of State does not have powers to evict someone without due process, stressing that such authority lies only with the courts and the Ministry of Lands.
“Even if someone is in the wrong, I cannot evict them, I should open a case. Only the court can make that decision, and police simply enforce it. So how could the invader, without a court order, be granted the status quo?” he inquired.
President Museveni thus emphasized the need for a justice system that aligns with societal realities.
“Why should people go through such unnecessary procedures to inherit property?” In the past, clans handled such issues when there was no centralized authority. Today, if the law allows girls to inherit provided it’s in a will or agreed upon by the clan then we should incorporate that into the law,” he noted.
He mentioned the current practice of forcing families to go directly to the Administrator General, describing it as unfair and disconnected from community traditions.
Instead, he advocated for a revival of traditional dispute resolution systems, such as clan-led mediation.
“In Ankole, for instance, if a girl was unhappy in her marriage, the family would mediate. The man would be summoned, and a tribunal of both families would seek the truth. It wasn’t about taking sides, but about fairness and harmony,” he explained.
Justice Buteera, the former Deputy Chief Justice addressing the gathering
According to the President, the judicial system’s failure to embrace traditional mechanisms was partly due to historical political instability, but he expressed hope that such approaches could now be revived.
Dr. Zeija, upon assuming his new role, vowed to address outdated legal procedures that burden ordinary citizens, particularly in inheritance and family disputes.
He criticized the current practice of directing families involved in disputes particularly those concerning the estates of deceased persons to the Office of the Administrator General.
The Chief Justice, His Lordship Alfonse Owiny-Dollo commended the outgoing Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Buteera for the job well done and congratulated Dr. Zeija on his appointment as the new Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda, describing him as a visionary and dedicated judicial officer.
