MUSEVENI: Judges in East Africa should share notes

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Judges and Magistrates across the East African Community member states to establish uniform standards and best practices for the efficient delivery of justice, emphasizing the shared social and cultural bonds that transcend physical boundaries imposed by colonial legacies.

Addressing the 20th Annual Conference of the East African Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (EAMJA) at the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo Kampala Tuesday, President Museveni highlighted common challenges faced by regional judiciaries, including corruption, delayed judgments, prolonged adjournments, high litigation costs, and foreign language rulings that hinder accessibility for ordinary citizens.

Advocating for significant enhancements, President Museveni emphasized three critical areas: facilitating effective access to justice, expediting judgments tackling case backlogs, and fortifying public trust in the judiciary. His remarks, delivered by Vice President Retired Jessica Alupo, stressed the importance of transparency, integrating technology, curbing corruption, and reducing litigation costs to foster trust in East African judiciaries.

Further, Museveni stressed the need for transparent judicial processes, ensuring citizens can anticipate favorable outcomes when presenting evidence, thereby bolstering confidence in the justice system.

Dispute Resolution mechanisms.   In alignment with this vision, Chief Justice of Uganda Alfonse Owiny-Dollo Chigamoy urged East African member states to provide employment and learning opportunities for lawyers from other countries, facilitating their practice in Uganda. He underscored the conference’s agenda focusing on addressing case backlog, corruption, dispensing Environmental and Banking Justice, and integrating Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao cautioned against antiquated practices hindering justice delivery, urging a reevaluation to align with present-day societal needs. He stressed transparency, acknowledging the paradigm shift wherein judicial officers are now subject to public scrutiny through social media and heightened visibility in court proceedings.

EAMJA President John Eudes Keitirima emphasized the imperative of robust, enforceable laws and effective judiciaries for socio-economic development. He called for clear, non-ambiguous laws ensuring equality and fair treatment for all litigants. Keitirima advocated adequate funding to empower judiciaries in fulfilling their transformational roles within their respective countries.

The conference convened over 500 judicial officers from the East African Community, including distinguished dignitaries from South Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, and the East African Court of Justice. Notable among the present are the Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya Lady Justice Philomena Mwilu, the former Chief Justice of Uganda (Emeritus) Bert Magunda Katureebe, and the President of East African Court of Justice Nestor Kayobera among others.

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