Abodo Urges Election Petition Judges to Protect Their Health

What the report says

Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, Uganda’s Principal Judge, has urged judges handling election petitions to protect their physical and mental health while working under tight deadlines. According to Nile Post, she delivered the message during a visit to the High Court in Mukono District, where she reviewed progress on the petitions, the judges’ working conditions and their general wellbeing.

Abodo told the judicial officers to manage stress carefully, plan hearings efficiently and work smartly so they can conclude cases on time without compromising a fair hearing. She said election petitions are only one part of a judge’s career and encouraged them to rely on the law and the evidence before them when making decisions. She also warned that exhaustion can build up gradually, making it important for judges to recognise when they need rest.

The Principal Judge also praised court staff, including registry personnel and research magistrates, for supporting the petition process. She noted that the Communications and Public Relations Registry was helping keep the public informed, which she said was important for transparency and understanding of court proceedings.

The judges in Mukono reportedly said they had adequate support and security, and that their rulings and judgments would be uploaded through the Judiciary’s Electronic Court Case Management Information System, or ECCMIS. The article presents the visit as part of the Judiciary’s broader effort to keep election petition hearings moving while maintaining working conditions that allow judges to perform their duties effectively.