The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) will be holding it’s court sessions in Uganda starting November 2022. The court will be hearing appeals and delivering rulings on several cases listed at both the first instance and appellate divisions of the court.
The 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga revealed this on opening of the 2nd Annual East African Court of Justice Judicial Conference taking place at Mestil Hotel, Kampala on Wednesday 26th October 2022.
According to Kadaga, President Museveni has been invited to the 2nd Annual East African Court of Justice Judicial Conference, whose theme is ‘Transforming Access to Justice in the East African Community’ under the auspices of the East African Court of Justice.
The Minister noted that this is an opportunity to devise mechanisms for ensuring systematic dispensation of justice at both the national and regional levels.
“It is a Partner States obligation under Article 126 of the Treaty to enhance Cooperation in legal and Judicial matters through harmonization of legal trainings and certification, standardization of judgements of courts and publication of law reports for jurisprudential purposes,” Kadaga said.
Kadaga commended the EACJ for job in passing judgements that have impacted Human Rights jurisprudence within the region and beyond as well as strengthening the East Community.
“It is therefore our noble obligation as citizens of the East African community to relentlessly support this court for the meaningful realization of the integration agenda,” she added.
She further added that the conference seeks to strengthen collaboration between the national judiciaries and the East African Court of Justice, increase awareness among the judges, judicial officers and legal practioners in the region on their role in enhancing access to justice by the citizenry, including the business community, who are most affected by cross-border engagements.
She added that enough preparations have been made and the government of Uganda shall provide all the requisite support to make the stay of both the judges and other court users and staff as comfortable as possible.
She indicated that there are 11 cases set for hearing and five that the court of first instance is expected to deliver judgment on.
Among the disputes to be handled will be those arising from the violation of fundamental and operational principles that govern the community.
The principles include good governance, adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, equal opportunities, gender equality as well as recognition, promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in accordance with the African charter on Human and People’s rights.
The EACJ will sit at the Commercial Court of Uganda for the whole month of November.
