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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
