Retired Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki has stressed that Uganda cannot achieve meaningful access to justice through technology alone, saying strong physical infrastructure remains essential to the effective delivery of judicial services.
Odoki made the remarks at Hotel Africana in Kampala during the launch of two books written by retired Judiciary Commissioner for Engineering and Technical Services, Eng. Dr Christopher Ebal.
The publications chronicle Ebal’s long career in public service and his contribution to the development of key public institutions.
The books, Transformative Leadership in Public Service: The Case of National Water and Sewerage Corporation, 2013–2020 and From the Corridors of the Uganda Judiciary: The Journey from 1998–2024, document Ebal’s professional experiences, leadership and role in supporting infrastructure development within the Judiciary.
Odoki, who served as Chief Justice from 2001 to 2013, recalled that the Judiciary expanded significantly during his tenure as the number of judges and other judicial officers increased.
He said the growth created an urgent need to establish facilities that could bring justice services closer to ordinary Ugandans.
He explained that the Judiciary at the time faced a choice over whether to concentrate on technological and administrative systems or invest in physical facilities. However, the institution ultimately recognised that both were necessary for an effective justice system.
According to Odoki, computers, telephones and other technological tools could improve judicial work but could never substitute for properly constructed courts where judges and magistrates operate and where citizens can seek justice. He said the Judiciary therefore embarked on expanding and improving court infrastructure across the country.
Odoki praised Ebal for his technical contribution to that transformation, particularly his involvement in supervising construction projects, working with contractors and supporting the development of architectural plans for court facilities. He also commended him for documenting his experiences, saying valuable institutional knowledge can disappear when public servants retire if their work is not properly recorded.
He said Ebal’s books go beyond personal memories because they preserve important lessons about Uganda’s public institutions, leadership and development. Odoki encouraged students, researchers, civil servants and future generations to use the publications as a source of knowledge on how the Judiciary and other public institutions have evolved over the years.
