Deputy CJ Buteera rallies advocates to embrace ADR

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Deputy Chief Justice, (CJ) Richard Buteera, has implored advocates to embrace alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms saying it is a good strategy to resolve disputes in a cheaper, faster and friendly manner.

He made the remarks yesterday during a prayer breakfast meeting for Judiciary at the Supreme Court in Kampala.

Under the theme: Leading from where you are, yesterday’s prayer breakfast was to remind different leaders from different sectors that they do not need to be holding any positions/posts to serve, whenever they can they should lead.

According to Justice Buteera, there are many cases in court which could have been expeditiously resolved had ADR been employed.

ADR refers to any means of settling disputes outside of the courtroom. Its many benefits make it more favourable than going to court and it comes in several forms.

“For those who are assigned in the delivery of justice, we believe ADR is going to do great work. ADR techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation, offer great prospects for peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationships,” Justice Buteera said.

Justice Buteera who quoted 1 Corinthians 6:1-7, told the advocates that the legal disputes among themselves shows that they have failed. He highlighted that parties that resolve disputes through ADR often remain friends after the case is resolved because it seeks to create “win-win” situations for everyone permanently.

The current case backlog stands at more than 50,000 cases. A case becomes backlogged when it has been in the justice system for over two years without a verdict being rendered.

“ADR is highly beneficial because it fosters co-operation and encourages increased compliance. This creates an active channel for the disagreeing parties to ensure the dispute is solved satisfactorily. It is the African way of resolving conflicts,” Justice Mike Chibita said.

Love and justice go hand in hand

During the function, American lawyer and a United States honorary consul to Uganda Robert Kendall Goff, who was invited as the guest speaker for the prayer breakfast, reminded the advocates that there is no love without Justice and there is no justice without love.

“As you continue to do what you love in the Judiciary, we need to know that God loves justice, when I read the Bible, I see that God was fond of lawyers. As you do your work remember that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope,” Goff said.

Using his own story of sailing from California to Hawaii, Goff narrated to the well attentive guests to always seek God’s direction before doing anything because when someone knows the right direction, they can point people to Jesus through Justice.

“By following Jesus and using his life as a pattern for our own, we are following the “true north” and will hit the target we seek – the ultimate fulfillment and use of our lives. There is no substitute for this “true north.” I encourage you to check your “chart” and make sure you are not following the wrong compass,” Goff said.

Who is Goff

Goff is also a New York Times bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody Always and the founder of Restore International (also known as Love Does), a non-profit organisation that is active in 14 countries around the world including Uganda.

Restore International was founded in 2006 under the mission of “restoring love and justice". Since then, Restore has founded Restore Leadership nursery, primary and secondary schools in Amuru district which has over 1,500 learners. In Gulu main prison, the organisation’s commitment lies in supporting the rehabilitation and empowerment of inmates through education and vocational training.

In Kampala, Restore International provides holistic care for girls from difficult backgrounds in form of food, education to medical care.