Experience and Impact of Digital Transformation in the Administration of Justice in Uganda: A Critical Analysis

A long and rich history characterizes the administration of justice in Uganda. Over the last twenty years, justice reforms have largely been engineered and driven by the “sector-wide” model adopted in the late 1990s to address systemic gaps and challenges. This “chain-linked approach” has inspired wide-ranging reforms in Uganda’s justice system defined by innovation and integration of digital technologies in business processes cutting across institutional boundaries. Through people-centered justice programming, Uganda’s justice institutions led by the Judiciary are adopting innovative practices, empowering stakeholders with information, and providing digital platforms to facilitate access to justice for all.

This paper takes a deep dive into Uganda’s unique experiences by examining the various building blocks of its justice reform programme powered by digital technologies. At an impact level, the paper explores current and potential outcomes of digitally transforming Uganda’s justice system – specifically its implication for service delivery and social-economic transformation. Current challenges and problems associated with implementing e-justice platforms are examined together with solutions that are currently being adopted.