President Yoweri Museveni has named Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija as Uganda’s new Chief Justice, succeeding Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, who retired last week.

Owiny-Dollo stepped down on January 18, 2026, upon attaining the compulsory retirement age of 70.

He officially transferred leadership to the Deputy Chief Justice the following day during a ceremony at the Supreme Court.

Owiny-Dollo assumed the position of Chief Justice in August 2020. Throughout his tenure, he championed greater judicial accountability, internal restructuring, and cohesion across the judiciary.

Justice Zeija now assumes the role of the nation’s highest judicial authority.

Born on February 18, 1969, in Western Uganda, he earned his Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University in 1996.

He completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Centre in 1997, followed by a Master of Laws from Makerere University in 2002 and a PhD in Law from the University of Dar es Salaam. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Uganda Martyrs University.

Admitted to the bar as an advocate in 1998, Zeija practiced privately and served as managing partner at Zeija, Mukasa and Company Advocates.

He lectured at Uganda Christian University and provided legal consultancy services.

Zeija entered the judiciary in 2016 as a High Court judge, initially posted as Resident Judge of the Mbarara High Court Circuit—one of Uganda’s most active circuits.

In December 2019, President Museveni elevated him to Principal Judge, where he oversaw High Court judges, allocated assignments, and supervised magistrates’ courts as the third-ranking judicial figure.

He was appointed Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in February 2025, succeeding the retiring Justice Richard Buteera.

Earlier today, Parliament’s Appointments Committee conducted Zeija’s vetting for the Chief Justice position.

The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the appointing authority in accordance with established procedures.