Uganda to host 19 Chief Justices

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Nineteen Chief Justices from Southern and Eastern Africa will be hosted in Uganda for the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices Forum meeting.

The meeting for the heads of the Judiciary in Southern and Eastern Africa will take place between September 30th-5th October at Commonwealth Speke Resort in Munyonyo on the shores of Lake Victoria.  

Supreme Court Judge, Mike Chibita, also the chairperson of the organising committee made the revelation during a press briefing at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday (September 25, 2024).

Justice Chibita explained that the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices Forum was established in 2003 as an association that brings together Chief Justices and Judges from over 16 countries in East and Southern Africa.

They include Uganda, Lesotho, Eswantini, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

Justice Chibita said, every year the forum holds the Chief Justices meeting and it is hosted by the Judiciary member states and this year, Uganda is hosting it.

“So far, 19 Chief Justices have confirmed their presence,” Chibita said.

He revealed that Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has also invited Chief Justices from non-member states like Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi and the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice to come and learn and by chance they may also join the forum.

The theme of the conference is enhanced access to justice, underscoring reforms in African Judiciaries.

Justice Chibita said, the theme resonates with the vision of the forum, which is a transformed independent and integrated Judiciary which promotes rule of law, fundamental human rights, democracy and good governance to ensure prosperity, equality, peace and security for all citizens.

Justice Chibita noted that, during the weeklong conference, the Chief Justices will explore suitable ways of employing appropriate technology and strategies in justice delivery.

“This conference is very important because it acts as a refresher course for the Chief Justices to meet, exchange ideas and refresh each other on jurisprudence,” Chibita said.

Underscoring the importance of the conference, Chibita said, “Whenever you interact with right minded people, you learn from them something that you may not be doing well.”

He noted that one of the biggest challenges of Judiciary worldwide is case backlog and when Chief Justices meet, it is one of the things they talk about because some countries have overcome it.

Chibita, said also a total of 28 Southern and Eastern Africa Judiciary administrators will also be in Uganda during the same week for their meeting that will take place at the Supreme Court conference hall.