KAMPALA — The Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday convened to vet Justice Flavian Zeija following his appointment as the next chief justice of Uganda.
The session, chaired by Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, marks the final step in a swift transition for the country’s judiciary. Zeija, who has been serving as the deputy chief justice since April 2025 and acting chief justice for the past week, was nominated by the president to succeed Alfonse Owiny-Dollo.
Owiny-Dollo officially retired Sunday, Jan. 18, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. He formally handed over the instruments of power to Zeija during a ceremony at the Supreme Court on Monday.
Zeija, 56, brings a diverse academic and professional background to the role. He holds a doctorate in law from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Master of Business Administration from Uganda Martyrs University. Before his elevation to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, he served as the principal judge, where he was credited with implementing several administrative reforms.
During the vetting process, the committee typically reviews an appointee’s judicial record, integrity and vision for the bench. Zeija has previously emphasized the need to eliminate the practice of putting judgments “on notice” without specific delivery dates and has been a vocal advocate for the expansion of regional courts to increase access to justice.
If his appointment is approved by the committee, the report will be forwarded to the president for formal swearing-in. Zeija would become the 14th chief justice of Uganda since independence.
