Former Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki has urged the Legal team at the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRA) to uphold the highest standards of excellence and integrity as they execute their mandate of resolving insurance-related complaints.
Speaking during a the Ruling and Judgment Writing Training with the Authority’s Legal Department at the Insurance Tower on October 23, 2025, Justice Odoki underscored the virtues of patience, diligence, and fairness as essential attributes of every member of the IRA Complaints Bureau.
“Hear details, answer wisely, and consider soberly,” he advised, emphasizing that justice must never be denied and that those wronged deserve timely and fair compensation.
He outlined six cardinal values of judicial conduct: independence, impartiality, propriety, equality, diligence, and competence – as the foundation for credible decision-making.
Justice Odoki cautioned against common shortcomings in the ruling-making process, including inadequate legal research, reliance on unsupported theories, and delays in writing judgments.
“Every decision must be grounded in law and supported by evidence,” he stated, urging the team to develop the ability to analyze voluminous documentation and carefully consider the consequences of their decisions.
He further emphasized teamwork, saying, “To achieve a common goal, there must be cooperation, mutual support, and avoidance of confrontation.”
He also challenged officers to cultivate both a judicial mind and judicial style-qualities that embody sound reasoning, clarity, and professionalism.
“Have a good command of the English language, use gender-sensitive expressions, plan wisely, and remember that punctuality is part of discipline,” he advised.
This training is part of the capacity building initiatives by the Authority to keep staff abreast of changing trending in the work environment.
The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Alhaj Dr. Kaddunabbi Ibrahim Lubega, hailed the training as a rare opportunity to learn from the person whose rulings have shaped Uganda’s jurisprudence.
“Through this mentorship, we hope to enhance our ability to write clear, structured, and persuasive rulings, apply legal principles with precision and fairness, and uphold integrity in our decision-making processes,” he said.
Alhaj Dr. Kaddunabbi further noted that the capacity to communicate decisions effectively is as important as making the right judgment itself.
“Well-written rulings inspire confidence in the Authority’s work and affirm our commitment to justice, accountability, and the rule of law”, he said.
The IRA’s Complaints Bureau plays a quasi-judicial role in resolving disputes between insurers, intermediaries, and policyholders, a function which makes excellence in legal reasoning a cornerstone of public trust.