Bigirimana: Chief Justice Zeija ‘Being Baptised by Fire’

By Skika Reporter

Kampala — Uganda’s newly appointed Chief Justice, Flavian Zeija, is already facing significant pressure at the helm of the Judiciary, with Judiciary Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana describing the situation as being “baptised by fire.”

Bigirimana made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing lawmakers at Parliament, urging them to support the Judiciary’s new leadership as it confronts immediate institutional and administrative challenges.

“They are being baptised by fire,” Bigirimana said, referring to the Chief Justice and the Principal Judge who recently assumed office.
“The Chief Justice and the Principal Judge are new in their positions, so they are facing the challenges.

Zeija assumed the country’s top judicial office after years of service within Uganda’s legal system, where he previously served as Deputy Chief Justice.

His appointment marked a major leadership transition in the judiciary at a time when the institution faces increasing pressure to:

Reduce case backlogs, improve court efficiency, restore public confidence in the justice system

The new Chief Justice has also recently come under public scrutiny after warning that he would not tolerate attacks on judges through social media platforms.

His remarks followed the arrest of activist lawyer Male Mabirizi, who had posted comments online accusing Zeija of being unqualified and unprepared to lead the country’s Judiciary.

The incident triggered debate among lawyers and civil society groups about freedom of expression and respect for judicial institutions.

Despite the early challenges, Bigirimana expressed optimism about Zeija’s leadership, describing him as an experienced and committed judicial officer. “I am very much hopeful that they will manage to face these challenges,” he told legislators.

Bigirimana noted that Zeija’s long service within the Judiciary has prepared him for the demanding role.

“I know for sure that the new Chief Justice has been in the judicial system for some time. He is a very committed person, fast-footed, and he knows the law. He is not a gambler.”

He also expressed confidence in the Principal Judge, adding that the Judiciary’s administrative leadership would continue working closely with the new judicial heads to ensure effective delivery of justice.

The remarks come as Uganda’s Judiciary continues implementing reforms aimed at strengthening the administration of justice. These include:

Digitalisation of court processes, expansion of court infrastructure, measures to address the persistent backlog of cases across the country

Officials say the reforms are intended to improve efficiency and ensure timely justice for citizens.