By Swift Reporter
The Attorney General, Dr. Sam Mayanja, has urged the legal profession to take a leading role in shaping Uganda’s digital transformation, warning that technology will either widen or narrow access to justice depending on the choices made by government, the judiciary and lawyers.
Dr. Mayanja was speaking as Special Guest at the Second Annual Uganda Law Society Digital Transformation Festival – Techfest 2026 – held on 17th and 18th September 2026 under the theme “Digital Democracy: Advancing Access to Justice, Innovation, and Ethical Governance Through Technology.”
The event, which was presided over by Chief Guest Hon. Rtd. Justice Frederick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende, brought together the Vice President and Council of the Uganda Law Society, development partners, exhibitors and members of the legal profession.
In his remarks, the Attorney General commended the Uganda Law Society for taking digital transformation beyond Kampala through regional exhibitions in Mbarara, Gulu and Mbale, saying digital transformation must reach all members of the legal profession and the public throughout Uganda, not only large institutions and urban law firms.
Dr. Mayanja said technology is fundamentally changing how legal services are delivered, how citizens engage with public institutions, and how information is created, stored and communicated.
Outlining his vision for the future of innovation, the Attorney General said the pace of technological change is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, but with great power comes great responsibility.
“The technologies we create must be used for the greater good and not just for personal gain,” he said.
He said the future will be defined by three key trends:
Sustainability – developing technologies that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible and reduce carbon footprint;
Inclusivity – ensuring everyone has access to the benefits of innovation regardless of background or socioeconomic status by making technologies accessible, affordable and user-friendly;
Collaboration – breaking down silos and working together across industries and disciplines to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.
“The future of innovation is not just about creating new technologies. It’s about using those technologies to create a better world for all. And that’s a future worth fighting for,” Mayanja noted.
The Attorney General told lawyers that change in today’s fast-paced environment is essential for survival and success, and proposed three strategies for leaders: cultivating adaptability and resilience, communicating early and often, and leading with empathy and compassion.
He urged leaders to create a culture where taking risks and trying new things is celebrated rather than feared, and to support their teams through transitions.
On this year’s theme, Dr. Mayanja said democracy is expressed not only through elections but through the daily ability of a citizen to know the law, bring a complaint before a lawful authority and receive a fair decision without unreasonable delay.
He warned: “Technology will either widen the door to justice or narrow it.”
According to him, technology widens the door when a file moves between registries within minutes instead of months, when a witness can testify without bearing the cost of travelling, and when a judgment is made available soon after delivery.
It narrows the door, however, when the only route to justice requires a smartphone, data and digital skills that many citizens do not possess.
Uganda, he noted, is not starting from nothing. Electronic transactions and signatures have legal recognition, the Data Protection and Privacy Act provides a framework for handling personal data, courts have embraced audio-visual links, electronic filing and electronic case management, while government registries are increasingly providing online services.
He however cautioned that technology continues to develop faster than many of the country’s procedures and professional rules.
Dr. Mayanja singled out Artificial Intelligence as the clearest example of this rapid change, saying AI can help lawyers research, summarise, translate, organise and prepare preliminary draft submissions and can reduce time and cost when used properly.
“However, it remains an aid to professional judgment and not a substitute for it,” he emphasized, adding that when an advocate signs a document, they remain responsible.
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