Judicial Trainers Enhance Tax Tribunal Officers' Judgment Writing and Mediation Skills

The Judicial Training Institute (JTI), in collaboration with the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), is currently hosting a three-day intensive training program for members and legal officers of the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT). Held in Entebbe, the initiative aims to bolster the TAT’s capacity to ensure fair and efficient tax justice for Uganda.

This workshop is designed to sharpen the skills of tribunal members, registrars, legal officers, and mediators in crucial areas. Key modules include effective judgment writing, rigorous evaluation of evidence, advanced mediation techniques, negotiation strategies, upholding judicial ethics, and exploring alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods.

Deputy Chief Justice Dr. Mike Chibita, who opened the training, lauded the TAT’s commitment to ongoing professional development and institutional enhancement. He also acknowledged IDLO’s significant role in supporting justice sector reforms and expanding access to justice across the country.

Dr. Chibita emphasized that training is a strategic investment aimed at improving institutional performance, not merely an attendance record. He highlighted judgment writing, evidence evaluation, mediation, and judicial ethics as fundamental competencies for effective adjudication. Well-crafted judgments enhance predictability and public trust, while mediation offers a swifter, more cost-effective dispute resolution pathway.

The training also underscored the importance of recent regulatory frameworks, such as the Judicature (Court-Annexed Mediation) Rules, 2026, which formalize mediation within the justice system. Participants were urged to actively engage in the training, internalize the knowledge, and apply it to expedite tax dispute resolutions and improve overall service delivery.

Solomon Wamai, Registrar of the Tax Appeals Tribunal, expressed gratitude for the partnership, noting that the training directly addresses the tribunal’s commitment to continuous learning. IDLO Country Director Barbara Kilei stated that this initiative marks the beginning of a fruitful partnership, ultimately aiming to boost public confidence in the tax justice system through enhanced decision-making quality and timeliness.

It was revealed that the TAT resolved 365 cases in the 2025/26 financial year, recovering approximately Shs766 billion. Notably, 177 of these cases, valued at around Shs202.5 billion, were settled through mediation, highlighting the growing efficacy of ADR in tax administration.

Source: Nile Post