Job Namanya | Tayari West
KABALE- For decades, the journey to justice for residents of the Kigezi sub-region was paved with long distances, high costs, and the wearying dust of the road to Mbarara. That era of geographic disenfranchisement came to a decisive end on Tuesday, as the Chief Justice of Uganda, Dr Flavian Zeija, officially commissioned the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA) Kabale Regional Office.
The commissioned facility marks a watershed moment for the Kigezi sub-region. It represents the first major milestone of the Ministry’s ambitious Strategic Plan 2025–2030, a roadmap designed to decentralize legal power and bring the Attorney General’s chambers to the doorsteps of the common man.
Presiding over the ceremony, Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija described the opening as a victory over the “tyranny of distance” and bureaucracy. For years, litigants, administrators, and grieving families from Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, and Rubanda were forced to trek over 140 kilometers to Mbarara just to file a pleading or seek legal guidance from the state.
“The establishment of this regional hub addresses longstanding challenges. By decentralizing these services, we are not just moving desks and chairs; we are enhancing efficiency and, more importantly, rebuilding public trust in the justice system. When justice is far, it feels unavailable. Today, we bring it home,” Dr. Zeija noted during his keynote address.
The Chief Justice emphasized that the presence of the office would significantly improve service delivery by providing timely guidance to local governments. This, he noted, would prevent costly legal errors by district administrations and ensure that the rule of law is upheld at the grassroots level.
The new Kabale Regional Office is not merely an administrative outpost; it is a fully functional legal hub. According to the Deputy Solicitor General Charles Ouma the office will offer a wide array of services that were previously centralized in Kampala or Mbarara.
He highlighted the services the office will offer including providing expert opinions to government departments and the public, handling cases where the state is a party, ensuring the government is represented effectively in local courts, assisting families in the management of estates and the protection of the rights of orphans and widows and aiding local governments in drafting ordinances and bylaws that align with national laws.
Ouma further noted that the new office will assist in monitoring the standards of legal education and practice within the region.
He also highlighted that the presence of the Attorney General’s Chambers in Kabale would ensure the “prompt filing of pleadings” and “consistent court attendance by state attorneys.” This is expected to drastically reduce the case backlog that often stems from state lawyers being unable to travel from distant stations to attend local court sessions.
Local leaders and human rights defenders, who have long advocated for such a move, welcomed the development as a “lifeline” for the poor.
Flavia Kanagizi, the Kabale District Speaker, expressed her gratitude, noting that the lack of nearby services had previously hindered the district’s ability to resolve legal disputes timely.
“Our people have suffered. Many would give up on their rights because they could not afford the transport and accommodation costs of following up on cases in Mbarara. This office changes the narrative for the Kigezi woman and the rural youth,” she said.
Echoing her sentiments, Donantus Eguma, a prominent Human Rights Defender, pointed out that the office would serve as a deterrent to injustice. “When the state’s legal arm is present in the community, there is a greater sense of accountability. We expect to see more settlements of disputes involving the government before they even escalate to court, saving both the taxpayer and the citizen time and money,” he said
The Kabale office is part of a larger national expansion strategy. While the Ministry already operates in Gulu, Soroti, Mbale, Arua, Mbarara, Fort Portal, and Moroto, the 2025–2030 plan sees the establishment of four more offices in Hoima, Masaka, Iganga, and Lira.
High Court Judge, Justice Karoli Lwanga Ssemogerere, joined other dignitaries in welcoming the move, noting that a stronger administrative presence by the Ministry of Justice complements the Judiciary’s own efforts to expand the High Court circuits.
“Justice is a chain. If the Ministry of Justice is well-represented, the courts can function more smoothly. This synergy is what will drive socio-economic development in Kigezi,” Justice Ssemogerere remarked.