President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Dr. Flavian Zeija as Uganda’s Deputy Chief Justice, replacing Justice Richard Buteera, who is set to retire in May 2025.
Dr. Zeija has served as Principal Judge since December 25, 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Master of Laws (LLM) from Makerere University, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC) in Kampala.
Additionally, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Uganda Martyrs University.
Dr. Zeija has extensive experience in legal practice, academia, and the judiciary:
He began his career in 1998 as a legal assistant at Kwesigabo, Bamwine, Walubiri & Company Advocates in Kampala. Later, he became the managing partner at Zeija, Mukasa & Company Advocates before joining the judiciary.
Zeija served as Manager, Legal & Recovery at Tropical Africa Bank (2002–2003) and later as Legal Counsel at FINCA Uganda Limited.
He taught law at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Makerere University, and Makerere University Business School (MUBS), where he was the founding head of the Department of Business Law.
He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 2016, serving as Resident Judge of the Mbarara High Court Circuit, the largest in Uganda. In December 2019, he was elevated to Principal Judge.
Dr. Zeija’s appointment as Deputy Chief Justice further strengthens Uganda’s judiciary, bringing both legal expertise and administrative leadership to the role.
