Deputy Chief Justice urges judicial Officers to prioritise Well-Being for better justice delivery.

The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi, has called on judicial officers and staff to prioritise their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, saying a healthy Judiciary is essential for effective justice delivery.

Justice Kazibwe made the remarks while representing the Chief Justice, Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, during celebrations to mark the International Day of Judicial Well-Being at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala under the theme, “Judicial Well-Being for Effective Justice Delivery.”

The celebrations began with a procession through Kampala City before participants returned to the Judiciary Headquarters for aerobics, blood donation, free medical screening and wellness awareness sessions.

In his address, Justice Kazibwe commended the Uganda Judicial Officers Association (UJOA), led by its President, Justice Daphine Ayebare, for championing judicial wellness and placing it at the centre of institutional discussions.

He said justice is delivered by people and not institutions alone, noting that the health and well-being of judicial officers directly affects the quality, fairness and integrity of court decisions.

Delivering the Chief Justice’s message, Justice Kazibwe said a supported and healthy Judiciary is less vulnerable to corruption and external influence, while stress and burnout among judges can negatively affect their judgment and decision-making.

He emphasised that judicial wellness is not only a personal matter but also a key pillar of judicial independence and an effective justice system. According to him, judicial officers who are physically and mentally healthy are better equipped to reason objectively, show empathy and deliver fair judgments.

Justice Kazibwe noted that the global focus on judicial wellness has grown due to increasing pressures faced by judicial officers, including heavy workloads, exposure to traumatic cases, public scrutiny and tight deadlines.

He explained that these challenges contributed to the United Nations recognising 25 July as the International Day of Judicial Well-Being, aimed at encouraging judiciaries worldwide to promote the welfare of judicial officers as a safeguard for integrity and quality justice.

Reflecting on the experiences of judges who served during the Nuremberg Trials, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Justice Kazibwe said delivering justice requires more than legal expertise and independence, but also emotional resilience and inner strength.

He stressed that judicial wellness should cover physical health, mental well-being, emotional resilience, professional growth, healthy relationships and spiritual nourishment.

Citing Christian and Islamic teachings, Justice Kazibwe said scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 6:19 and Qur’an 2:195 encourage people to take care of their bodies so they can serve society with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

The Deputy Chief Justice highlighted several initiatives by the Judiciary aimed at improving staff welfare, including health runs, weekly aerobics, gym facilities, professional counselling services through Rapport Counselling, and wellness programmes integrated into activities of the Judicial Training Institute.

He also praised the Judiciary HIV Committee for conducting nationwide health screenings, counselling and awareness programmes, as well as the Sexual Harassment Committee for promoting a safe and respectful workplace.

Justice Kazibwe further recognised peer support programmes and quarterly interfaith prayer breakfasts as important initiatives in strengthening the emotional and spiritual well-being of judicial officers and staff.