From Scholar to Supreme Gavel! Flavian Zeija Takes Charge of Uganda’s Judiciary

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Honourable Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija as Uganda’s new Chief Justice, marking a significant transition at the very top of the country’s judicial system. The appointment follows the retirement of Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo and signals continuity in leadership at a time when public confidence and efficiency in justice delivery remain central concerns.

Justice Owiny-Dollo bowed out of office on January 18, 2026, after reaching the constitutional retirement age of 70. The following day, he formally handed over responsibilities to the Deputy Chief Justice in a ceremony at the Supreme Court, closing a chapter that began in August 2020 and was characterized by a strong push for discipline, reforms, and unity within the judiciary.

Justice Zeija now assumes the mantle as the country’s highest judicial officer, bringing with him a rich blend of legal scholarship, courtroom experience, and administrative leadership. Born on February 18, 1969, in Western Uganda, his legal journey was shaped early through local education before he joined Makerere University in 1993 to pursue law.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1996 and later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre in 1997. His academic path continued with a Master of Laws degree from Makerere University in 2002, a PhD in Law from the University of Dar es Salaam, and a Master of Business Administration from Uganda Martyrs University, underscoring his depth in both law and management.

After being enrolled as an advocate in 1998, Zeija spent years in private legal practice, rising to become managing partner at Zeija, Mukasa and Company Advocates. At the same time, he contributed to shaping future legal minds as a lecturer at institutions such as Uganda Christian University, while also undertaking consultancy assignments across the justice sector.

His judicial career began in 2016 with his appointment as a High Court judge, where he was posted as Resident Judge of the Mbarara High Court Circuit. The circuit’s heavy workload and complexity offered a testing ground that further refined his judicial temperament and administrative skills.

In December 2019, President Museveni elevated him to the position of Principal Judge, making him the third-highest ranking judicial officer in the country. In that role, Zeija supervised High Court judges, coordinated judicial assignments, and oversaw magistrates’ courts, gaining firsthand experience in managing Uganda’s vast judicial machinery.

His rise continued in February 2025 when he was appointed Deputy Chief Justice, a role in which he openly championed respect for the law, humane justice, and reforms in sensitive areas such as land and inheritance disputes. After being vetted earlier today by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Justice Zeija’s appointment as Chief Justice now sets expectations for renewed momentum toward efficiency, fairness, and restored public trust in Uganda’s courts.