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The Jane Frances Abodo, Principal Judge of Judiciary of Uganda, yesterday held a meeting with members of the Executive and Secretariat of the Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA) at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala.
The meeting focused on leadership development, staff welfare, and strengthening collaboration between the Judiciary administration and judicial officers.
Justice Abodo thanked the Association’s leadership for paying her a courtesy visit and commended their dedication and selfless service to judicial officers across the country.
She noted that serving within the Association provides members with valuable leadership experience that prepares them for future leadership roles within the Judiciary.
“Leadership is important because we need the ability to manage our stations and ourselves. The service you are offering will not go to waste. When your time to lead comes, you will not scramble because you will already have the experience gained during your service in the Association,” she said.
The Principal Judge also praised the Association for initiating several engagement programmes including dialogue sessions, mediation initiatives, talk shows, and the porridge project.
She said such initiatives strengthen the relationship between judicial officers and the institution.
“I have always been touched by the plight of prisoners who are brought to court very early and sometimes return to prison late, missing meals. The porridge project is therefore a very good idea,” she said, encouraging the team to continue the initiative while observing strict hygiene standards to avoid food-related risks.
Justice Abodo further encouraged the Association to continue building leadership capacity among its members and to promote wellness initiatives, noting that such efforts position the Association as a valuable partner to the Judiciary administration.
Addressing concerns about staff welfare, the Principal Judge emphasized the need for inclusivity across the Judiciary. She observed that some staff earn as little as Shs200,000, stressing the importance of ensuring that welfare programmes benefit both judicial and non-judicial officers.
She therefore advised UJOA to consider extending some of its initiatives, including the savings circle, to non-judicial staff in order to promote unity and collective welfare within the institution.
Justice Abodo also welcomed the Association’s charity walks and engagement activities, noting that they play a key role in fostering camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose among officers.
At the same time, she encouraged judicial officers to remain focused on delivering effectively in their duties.
“When officers concentrate on their work, leadership can respond to concerns with greater zeal and understanding,” she said.
The Principal Judge also emphasized the importance of advocating for career progression for long-serving officers, saying that visible promotions motivate staff by demonstrating a clear career ladder within the Judiciary.
“All in all, you are doing a great job and we appreciate your efforts,” she added.
Meanwhile, the President of UJOA, Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, thanked the Principal Judge for granting the Association’s Executive time and congratulated her on her appointment.
Justice Kazaarwe expressed confidence in the Principal Judge’s leadership, saying the Association was proud of her achievement.
She explained that the Association frequently receives concerns from judicial officers but does not have the authority to directly address some of them.
“It is sometimes difficult to be powerless when concerns are raised by officers, which is why we present them to you,” she said.
Justice Kazaarwe also appreciated the Permanent Secretary for consistently providing the Association with venues to hold its events.
However, she noted that UJOA currently operates without a dedicated budget and that members often use their personal resources to run the Association’s programmes and activities.
