Owiny-Dollo hangs up the robes as Zeija takes acting reins

The top judge just hung up his robes after a decades-long legal grind. Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo has retired, concluding a career spanning over forty years. His tenure focused on a major Judiciary Transformation Agenda, pushing digitization and tackling case backlogs to modernize the courts.

Owiny-Dollo's path took him from humble beginnings in northern Uganda to mediating rebel negotiations and helping draft the national constitution. He served as a legislator for Agago County and a government minister before ascending the judicial ranks. His rulings on presidential petitions and military court jurisdictions drew significant public attention.

The outgoing justice earned law degrees from Makerere University and pursued conflict resolution studies abroad. His mediation work extended to advising during peace talks in South Sudan. He was appointed Deputy Chief Justice before ultimately leading the judiciary.

His legacy includes a push for improved court infrastructure and enhanced access to justice. While his leadership faced some criticism over bar relations, he emphasized institutional autonomy and operational reforms. Owiny-Dollo leaves a judicial system markedly altered by his modernization efforts.