President Yoweri Museveni has appointed seasoned Court of Appeal judge Moses Kazibwe Kawumi as Ugandaโs new Deputy Chief Justice, while veteran judicial officer Agnes Alum has been named the new Chief Registrar.
The appointments, announced on Thursday, come at a pivotal moment for Ugandaโs judiciary as leadership transitions continue to reshape the institution. The changes follow the elevation of Flavian Zeija to Chief Justice in January 2026 after the retirement of Alfonse Owiny-Dollo upon reaching the constitutional age limit.
Justice Kawumi assumes the countryโs second-highest judicial office with decades of experience on the bench. Since his appointment to the High Court in 2016 alongside six other judges, he steadily rose through the judiciary before joining the Court of Appeal. Over the years, he has handled several landmark cases, including a notable 2025 ruling that upheld President Museveniโs authority to appoint officials within the National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretariat. Colleagues within the legal fraternity regard him as a calm and dependable jurist with strong expertise in civil and commercial law, shaped by his earlier service in the Commercial Court division.
Meanwhile, Her Worship Agnes Alum steps into the influential role of Chief Registrar after more than two decades of service in Ugandaโs judiciary. Before this appointment, she served as Deputy Registrar overseeing Magistrates Affairs and Data Management. In August 2025, she was promoted to full Registrar alongside two other judicial officers as part of broader efforts to improve court efficiency and administration. Her new office carries responsibility for the judiciaryโs daily operations, including supervision of magistratesโ courts, case management systems, and institutional performance monitoring. 
The latest appointments further reflect President Museveniโs continued role in shaping leadership within Ugandaโs judicial system. The office of Deputy Chief Justice had remained vacant since Justice Zeijaโs elevation earlier this year, leading the Judicial Service Commission to invite applications in March.
Both appointees are expected to undergo the necessary parliamentary vetting procedures before formally taking office. The judiciary has not yet announced an official date for their swearing-in ceremony.



