The Court of Appeal has recorded 60 successful mediations between January and October 2026 as the Judiciary intensifies efforts to reduce case backlogs and improve access to justice through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
According to the Judiciary, the court closed 27 applications during the period, while 171 mediation attempts were unsuccessful and 197 appeals were carried forward under the mediation programme.
The figures were presented during a mediation review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi at the Court of Appeal Conference Hall in Kampala.
The meeting assessed the performance of appellate mediation, examined challenges affecting the programme and explored measures to increase the number of disputes resolved through mediation.
Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal Nanteza Zulaika presented reports on the Case Settlement Fortnight held earlier this year, alongside an overview of the court’s overall mediation performance.
The Judiciary reported a steady increase in requests from court users seeking referrals to mediation, indicating growing interest in resolving disputes outside the conventional litigation process.
Participants resolved to strengthen efforts to expedite case disposal while maintaining the quality of justice delivered by the court.
The review meeting was followed by a training session for court-annexed mediators aimed at equipping them with practical skills and knowledge to handle disputes at the appellate level.
Court of Appeal Justice and Court Administrator Geoffrey Kiryabwire presented on appellate mediation in Uganda, while former Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera discussed the practical differences between appellate mediation and trial mediation.
Senior Counsel Francis Gimara addressed the role of mediators in helping parties move beyond their stated positions to identify their underlying interests during appellate disputes.
Nanteza Zulaika also presented on case selection and the suitability of disputes for mediation.
The sessions were designed to strengthen mediators’ understanding of appellate dispute resolution and improve their ability to guide parties towards mutually acceptable settlements.
Closing the engagement, Deputy Chief Justice Kazibwe said the sessions had strengthened participants’ commitment to mediation and enhanced their understanding of its role in resolving disputes.
He described the engagement as the first of its kind at the Court of Appeal and pledged to organise similar sessions in the future.
Kazibwe also welcomed the newly appointed team of court-annexed mediators and thanked them for accepting the responsibility, assuring them of his support.
He encouraged the mediators to seek guidance from his office whenever necessary and announced plans to extend similar training to advocates to improve their understanding of appellate mediation and encourage wider acceptance of the process.
The engagement brought together justices of the Court of Appeal, registrars and mediators attached to the court. Chief Justice Emeritus Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo participated virtually.
The Judiciary says strengthening mediation at the appellate level is part of broader efforts to improve the efficiency of the justice system.
Mediation allows parties to negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement with the assistance of a neutral mediator, potentially avoiding lengthy court proceedings.
The Judiciary expects greater use of the process to help resolve disputes more quickly, reduce pressure on the courts and improve access to justice for litigants.
The latest figures highlight both the potential of mediation and the need to address challenges that prevent some disputes from reaching a settlement.
