President Museveni has appointed Justice Flavian Zeija as Uganda’s new Deputy Chief Justice.
He a role he’s stepping into after the retirement of Justice Richard Buteera in April 2025.
Before his big promotion, Justice Zeija held the prestigious position of Principal Judge, overseeing the entire operations of the High Court. Now, with his promotion, the Principal Judge’s position is vacant, and a new appointment will be made to fill those big shoes.
In addition to Zeija’s rise, President Museveni has named eight new justices to the Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court, added one justice to the Supreme Court, and appointed 21 acting High Court judges for a two-year stint.
This massive overhaul aims to tackle the infamous backlog of cases in Uganda’s judicial system.
With a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws from Makerere University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the University of Dar es Salaam, and an MBA from Uganda Martyrs University, his credentials are stacked. He’s also lectured at Makerere University and Uganda Christian University, shaping future lawyers while climbing the judicial ranks.
His career has been a mix of high-powered legal roles from practicing attorney to managing partner at his own firm, and even Resident Judge of the Mbarara High Court.
Throughout his career, Zeija has made landmark decisions, including presiding over a 2020 inheritance dispute where he defined the rights of grandchildren in Uganda’s legal system.
Beyond the courtroom, Zeija is a proud family man with five children – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfjSo3XLgpE&t=1s
