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President Yoweri Museveni has asked courts to be proactive in the fight against poverty.

In his speech read by Vice President Jessica Alupo during the East African Magistrates and Judges Conference (EAMJA), Museveni said the courts should guide and ensure disputes are resolved on time, to free up money that would have been held up in endless court cases.

The conference was organised by Uganda’s Judiciary at the Common Wealth Resort Munyonyo and kicked off on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

“As a government, we are currently implementing the Parish Development Model as a way of liberating our people from poverty. However, without functional courts to resolve disputes of the people that may arise from their different economic transactions, these initiatives may be undermined,” Museveni stated.

The President noted that when criminals like murderers, and thieves, among others, are locked away, businesses thrive, resulting in prosperity in communities.

Regarding enhancing public trust in the judiciary, Museveni said one of the priority areas in building trust is tackling corruption, noting that the vice undermines public confidence not only in African judiciaries but also in the whole government system.

The President observed that corruption fosters criminality and slows down efforts to eradicate poverty.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo noted that the Judiciary is confronted with numerous challenges in the administration of justice, saying the conference will help judicial officers come up with best practices/solutions to those challenges.

“Our actions and decisions have far-reaching consequences on the society, and we must bear in mind the aspirations of the people we serve,” Owiny-Dollo stated.

The conference was attended by delegates from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Uganda, EACJ, Lesotho, and Zanzibar, among others.

EAMJA draws membership from the organizational bodies representing Judges and Magistrates in East African countries, namely; the Kenya Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (KMJA), Rwanda Judges and Registrars Association (RJRA), Uganda Judicial Officers’ Association (UJOA), the Judges’ and Magistrates’ Association of Tanzania (JMAT) and Zanzibar Judicial Officers Association.