President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Justice Flavian Zeija as the new Chief Justice of the Republic of Uganda, elevating a seasoned jurist, academic and administrator to the country’s highest judicial office as outgoing Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo prepares for retirement.
The appointment, announced by State House on Thursday, January 22, 2026, was made in exercise of the President’s powers under Article 142(1) of the 1995 Constitution, and followed advice from the Judicial Service Commission.
Justice Zeija’s name was subsequently submitted to Parliament, where he appeared before the Appointments Committee for vetting and received parliamentary approval in accordance with constitutional requirements.
Justice Zeija, born on 18 February 1969, is a Ugandan lawyer, academic and former judge of the High Court of Uganda with extensive experience spanning legal practice, judicial administration and academia.
He served as Principal Judge of Uganda from 25 December 2019 until 7 February 2025, when he was appointed Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda.
As Principal Judge, he was responsible for supervising all judges of the High Court and overseeing the Magistrates’ Courts, including the assignment of judicial duties across the country.
In Uganda’s judicial hierarchy, the Principal Judge ranks as the third-highest judicial officer, after the Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice.
The top five judicial officers are ranked as the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice, the Principal Judge, the Secretary to the Judiciary, and the Chief Registrar.
Justice Zeija’s academic background reflects a strong foundation in law and governance.
He attended local primary and secondary schools before joining Makerere University in 1993, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1996.
In 1997, he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC) in Kampala.
He later returned to Makerere University to pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) degree, which he completed in 2002. In 2013, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law by the University of Dar es Salaam.
Vivo Puts Two Downtown Kampala Shell Stations up for Sale Amid Congestion ConcernsHe also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Uganda Martyrs University, obtained in 2018, and has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of the United Kingdom since 2012.
Justice Zeija began his legal career in 1998 as a legal assistant at Kwesigabo, Bamwine, Walubiri & Company Advocates, a Kampala-based law firm.
He later worked as Manager, Legal and Recovery at Tropical Africa Bank between 2002 and 2003, and also served as Legal Counsel at FINCA Uganda Limited.
Before his appointment to the bench, he was the Managing Partner at Zeija, Mukasa & Company Advocates, another Kampala-based law firm.
Alongside legal practice, Zeija built a distinguished academic career, teaching law at Uganda Christian University, Makerere University, and Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
At MUBS, he served as the founding Head of the Department of Business Law, contributing to the development of legal education in Uganda.
Justice Zeija was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Uganda in 2016 and was assigned as the Resident Judge of the Mbarara High Court Circuit, the largest judicial circuit in the country. His performance in that role led to his appointment as Principal Judge in December 2019.
Justice Zeija now succeeds Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, who exits the role upon reaching the constitutional retirement age.
As Chief Justice, Zeija will head the Judiciary of Uganda, preside over the Supreme Court, and play a central role in shaping judicial policy, administration and the rule of law.
His appointment is widely seen as a move that brings to the helm a jurist with a rare blend of judicial experience, administrative leadership, academic depth and private sector exposure, as Uganda enters a new phase in its judicial leadership.
