Uganda Judiciary Expands Electronic Staff Appraisal System to Boost Accountability

The Ugandan Judiciary has widened the scope of its digital performance tracking by extending the electronic appraisal system to several new administrative departments. This latest phase aims to bolster institutional accountability, improve staff productivity, and streamline justice delivery across the board.

The expansion is currently being facilitated through an intensive two-day training workshop centered on the Performance Enhancement Tool (PET). Staff members drawn from key units—including the Registry of Communications and Public Relations, the Policy and Planning Department, and the Human Resources Department—are participating in the sessions. This rollout follows an earlier implementation phase targeting Chief Magistrates and Information and Communications Technology personnel during the 2025/2026 Financial Year.

Justice Mike Chibita, who chairs the Performance Management and Awards Committee, noted that adopting the 360-degree system marks a crucial milestone in modernizing the judicial sector. According to Justice Chibita, achieving efficient justice delivery relies just as heavily on the commitment and productivity of administrative personnel as it does on judicial officers.

“The system is intended to clarify staff responsibilities, align performance expectations, support professional development and strengthen institutional accountability,” Justice Chibita stated, emphasizing that the digital framework is meant to nurture growth rather than penalize workers.

Chief Registrar Agnes Alum explained that the tool—initially launched by the President in 2019 and officially operationalized in October 2025—uses automated processes to simplify planning, reporting, and evaluation. This technological shift is designed to minimize errors tied to manual paperwork and allow for real-time tracking of institutional metrics.

Under the 360-degree approach, selected departmental heads and staff will act as both evaluatees and evaluators, assessing colleagues, subordinates, and supervisors alike. Alum stressed that transparency will be driven by clearly articulated key performance indicators and structured feedback, though she cautioned that the system’s success relies heavily on accurate user data entry.

Workshop attendees are set to master the nuances of the appraisal framework, scoring models, performance indicators, and competency metrics. Participants will also acquire skills in utilizing survey instruments to gather critical feedback from advocates, prosecutors, and court users.

Read more details on the original report at Nile Post.