Africa-Press – Uganda. The Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, has urged the practical and selective application of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in criminal justice, saying it strengthens judicial authority, improves case management, and enhances judicial wellness when properly applied.
Justice Abodo made the remarks while guiding a panel preparing for the forthcoming Annual Judges’ Conference (AJC) during a preparatory meeting.
She stressed that discussions on ADR at the conference should be rooted in real courtroom experience rather than theory, demonstrating that ADR is compatible with criminal justice and remains firmly under judicial control.Addressing concerns among some judicial officers, Justice Abodo acknowledged fears that ADR could dilute judicial authority but dismissed them.
“On the contrary, ADR strengthens judicial oversight, as it is the judicial officer who determines suitability, manages the process, and ultimately controls the outcome,” she said, drawing on her experience in both the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
She emphasised that ADR must not be applied as a blanket diversion from the criminal justice process.
Its use should be selective and principled, with judicial discretion—especially in matters of public interest—remaining central.
When properly applied, Justice Abodo noted, ADR allows judicial officers to focus on complex and serious cases while resolving suitable disputes, such as compensation-driven matters, more efficiently.
This, she said, improves docket management and reduces the strain associated with prolonged trials and extensive judgment writing.
Justice Abodo welcomed the proposed panel format for the conference, based on guided questions rather than slide presentations, saying it would promote peer-to-peer engagement and enable judges to share “lived courtroom experiences” applicable across different court stations.
The Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha, thanked the Principal Judge for her guidance, noting that input from the Deputy Chief Justice and Chief Justice Emeritus Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo has shaped this year’s conference direction.
He reaffirmed that the AJC is judge-led, with JTI providing coordination and technical support.
Justice Prof. Khaukha added that the ADR paper was developed under Justice David Matovu, Head of the Criminal Division, with contributions from the JTI research team and the ADR Registry under the Principal Judge’s direction.
The conference will adopt a paperless format, with materials accessed via QR codes to support timely and interactive engagement.
The meeting also reviewed progress on panels covering judicial wellness, artificial intelligence in justice administration, and judicial leadership.
In her closing remarks, Justice Abodo reiterated that “judicial wellness remains at the heart of the conference,” stressing that success will be measured by whether judges leave motivated to apply ADR effectively, improve docket management, and enhance their overall judicial experience.
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