Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo has formally exited Uganda’s Judiciary after attaining the constitutional retirement age of 70, bringing to a close a remarkable career of more than 40 years in law, mediation, and public service.
Born on January 18, 1956, in present-day Agago District in northern Uganda, Owiny-Dollo vacated office at midnight on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in accordance with Article 144(1)(a) of the Constitution. The provision mandates the retirement of the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, and justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal upon reaching 70 years of age.
On Monday, January 19, 2026, he officially handed over leadership of the Judiciary to his deputy, Dr. Flavian Zeija, during a ceremony held in the Supreme Court boardroom. Judiciary leaders praised his five-year tenure as Chief Justice as orderly, reform-driven, and marked by strong collegial leadership.
Owiny-Dollo’s legal education includes a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford, and specialized mediation training in Cape Town.
His early professional life was rooted in peace-building and governance. He served as legal counsel during late-1980s peace negotiations between the government and the Uganda People’s Democratic Movement, was a delegate to the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1995 Constitution, represented Agago County in Parliament from 1996 to 2001, and later served as Minister of State for the Northern Uganda Reconstruction Programme.
Beyond Uganda, he played a key advisory role in the 2006–2008 peace talks between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army, advising South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar and participating in landmark engagements, including a meeting with LRA leader Joseph Kony in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His judicial career began with his appointment to the High Court in 2008, followed by elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2015 and appointment as Deputy Chief Justice in 2017. He assumed office as Acting Chief Justice in June 2020 before being appointed substantive Chief Justice—the 13th in Uganda’s history—by President Yoweri Museveni in August 2020, succeeding Bart Magunda Katureebe.
As head of the Judiciary, Owiny-Dollo led the Judiciary Transformation Agenda (2020–2025), prioritizing the reduction of case backlogs, expansion of access to justice, digitization of court processes, and improvement of judicial infrastructure. He also presided over major national cases, including the 2021 presidential election petition, and oversaw landmark decisions limiting the trial of civilians in military courts, while consistently underscoring judicial independence despite periodic tensions between the Bar and the Bench.
In his farewell address, he said he leaves office satisfied with the progress made, particularly in strengthening technology, infrastructure, and institutional autonomy. In retirement, he intends to focus on promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
His departure leaves the Judiciary without a substantive Chief Justice, prompting attention to succession and continuity, especially in light of possible future election-related litigation. For now, Deputy Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija will serve in an acting capacity pending a presidential appointment.
