After more than four decades in legal and public service, Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo has retired, marking the end of a defining era for Uganda’s Judiciary.
Appointed a Judge of the High Court in 2008, Owiny-Dollo steadily rose through the judicial ranks, becoming Deputy Chief Justice in 2017 and Chief Justice in August 2020. He assumed office at a time when the justice system was under strain facing massive case backlogs, limited funding, and growing public demand for accessible justice.
During his tenure, he presided over some of the country’s most consequential cases, including the 2021 Presidential Election Petition filed by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu against President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as well as key rulings on the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians.
Beyond the courtroom, Owiny-Dollo is widely credited for pushing bold reforms. Judiciary funding more than doubled, rising from Shs 199 billion in 2020/21 to Shs 435 billion by 2025/26, enabling improved infrastructure and operations. He also championed Alternative Dispute Resolution, launching Uganda’s Alternative Justice Systems Strategy in 2023 and taking on a continental leadership role as pioneer chair of the African Chief Justices Forum on ADR.
As he retires at 70, his legacy is reflected in a more resourced, modern, and people-centered justice system. In accordance with the Constitution, Deputy Chief Judge Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija will oversee the Judiciary as the country awaits the appointment of the next Chief Justice.
For many, Owiny-Dollo’s departure is not just a retirement, it is the close of a chapter that reshaped Uganda’s path toward accessible and credible justice.
