Africa-Press – Uganda. President Museveni has renewed his call for sweeping legal reforms to address what he described as outdated practices that no longer reflect the realities of modern Ugandan society.
His remarks came as Flavian Zeija was sworn in as Deputy Chief Justice at a ceremony held at State House in Entebbe.
Dr Zeija, a legal scholar and former Principal Judge, replaces Justice Richard Buteera, who retires after more than four decades of service to the judiciary.
In his speech, President Museveni paid tribute to Justice Buteera’s distinguished career and congratulated Zeija on his elevation, expressing confidence in his leadership.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account shortly after the ceremony, Museveni echoed Zeija’s views on the urgent need to update laws, particularly in areas such as inheritance and land.
“There is a need for a justice system that aligns with societal realities,” he wrote.
“Why should people go through such unnecessary procedures to inherit property? In the past, clans handled such issues when there was no centralised authority.”
Museveni also addressed gender disparities in succession laws, questioning why women and girls should be denied rights to inheritance under customary norms when such rights could be recognised through consensus.
“If the law allows girls to inherit property, provided it’s in a will or agreed upon by the clan, then we should incorporate that into the law,” he said.
These remarks come amid long-standing debates over Uganda’s succession and land laws, which critics say have failed to adapt to the country’s demographic shifts, urbanisation, and evolving gender roles.
Activists have frequently raised concerns that women and children are particularly vulnerable under customary systems of inheritance, often left unprotected when disputes arise.
In his address, Zeija called for a judiciary that is both accessible and sensitive to the changing needs of Ugandans.
He pledged to prioritise the reduction of case backlogs and champion judicial reforms that will restore public trust in the legal system.
Zeija’s appointment adds to the momentum for reform within Uganda’s judiciary, which has faced criticism over slow case resolution and limited access to justice in rural areas.
His predecessor, Justice Buteera, leaves a legacy that includes decades of service as Director of Public Prosecutions, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and eventually, Supreme Court Justice.
President Museveni’s endorsement of reform suggests a political willingness to revisit some of the country’s most sensitive legal issues—particularly those surrounding land, customary law, and gender equality.
With Zeija now second-in-command of the judiciary, advocates are watching closely to see whether legal practice will shift to better reflect Uganda’s lived social dynamics.
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