East African Court of Justice, Arusha, Tanzania, 25th April, 2026: A two-day capacity-building workshop for Judges of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) on Competition Law and Policy was held at the Salinero Hotel, Moshi on 23–24 April 2026. The workshop which was funded by the European Union under the “Technical Assistance to the East African Community Competition Authority” project aimed to strengthen the Court’s ability to adjudicate competition matters arising under Community law.
Judges heard comparative enforcement experiences from other Regional Economic Communities including the EU, OECD and COMESA and Partner States including Tanzania and Kenya. Sessions focused on the EACJ’s role in judicial review of decisions of the East African Competition Authority (EACCA) while ensuring primacy and uniform interpretation of Community Competition Law.
Speakers included the EU Support to EACCA Project Team Leader and Key Expert, the Acting EAC Counsel to the Community, a representative of the European Commission Legal Service, the CEO of COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission, the Director Generals of Tanzania’s Fair Competition Commission and Kenya’s Competition Authority. Participants included Judges of the EACJ, representatives of the EAC Secretariat, EACCA, the EU Directorate General for Competition and EU Delegation to Tanzania.
Hon. Annette Mutaawe Ssemuwemba, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, officially opened the workshop and underscored the Court’s appellate role as the Authority moves to the full implementation of its Act. “The Court plays a pivotal role as the appellate body for competition decisions. This meeting is timely as the Authority’s decisions may now be appealed to the Court for adjudication.”
Hon. Justice N. Kayobera, President of the East African Court of Justice, welcomed the training as an opportunity to build expertise in an area where the Court has not adjudicated: “We look forward to lessons from the EU, COMESA and EAC National Competition Authorities. Competition is a key factor in creating the Community single market.”
Mr Marc Stalmans, Head of the Cooperation at the EU Delegation to United Republic of Tanzania and EAC, highlighted the link between the EU’s global gateway initiative and fair competition, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to share experience with the EACJ, EACCA and national authorities to foster an effective regional enforcement system.
Ms. Camelia Grozea, Deputy Head of Unit for International Relations in the Directorate-General for Competition stressed the decisive role of courts in shaping regional economic and legal frameworks and reiterated the European Commission’s support for the EAC’s legal and institutional development.
The workshop advances ongoing efforts to build a coherent, enforceable competition law framework across the East African Community and prepares the EACJ to adjudicate competition disputes consistently with Community objectives.
About the EACJ
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the Organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. The Court was established in November 2001; its key mandate is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty. Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the capitals of the following Partner States: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania.
For more information please contact:
Christine Mutimura
Acting Registrar,
East African Court of Justice.
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: 255-27-2162149
Email: cmwekesa@eachq.org