East African Court of Justice, Kigali , Rwanda, 10th March, 2025: the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and the East Africa Law Society (EALS) successfully convened the inaugural EACJ Bar-Bench Forum on 10th March, 2025 at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. The Bar-Bench Forum which was officially launched by His Lordship Justice Nestor Kayobera, the Judge President of the EACJ brought together high level delegates including, all Justices of the EACJ, former Judges of the EACJ, Lawyers from the region who were led by the President of the East Africa Law Society, Mr. Ramadhan Abubakar Mukira, all National Bar presidents, including the President of the newly admitted Ethiopia Federal Advocates Association, Mr. Tewodros Getachew.
The Forum had the following objectives:
a. Enhance Dialogue and Collaboration between the Judges of the EACJ and legal practitioners;
b. Strengthen Implementation of EACJ decisions, with a focus on enhancing compliance by Partner States;
c. Promote Synergies and Regional Integration while exploring the Bar and Bench’s role in advancing regional integration and upholding the rule of law; and
d. Explore the creation of innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the EACJ’s accessibility, efficiency and effectiveness and in the process enhance access to justice.
The Judge President, Hon. Justice Nestor Kayobera, on opening the forum, lauded the EACJ and EALS for convening the Inaugural EACJ Bar- Bench Forum, noting that the launch was a key moment for building cooperation and strengthening the vital roles of both the Bar and the Bench in advancing regional integration and upholding the rule of law in East Africa. In highlighting the essence of the collaboration between the bar and the bench, Hon. Justice Kayobera said, “The collective wisdom and experiences of both judges and lawyers are essential in identifying innovative solutions to the challenges facing the East African Court of Justice and Legal practice in the region. Let us use this forum to forge stronger partnerships, share our experiences, and identify actual steps we can take to build a more just, integrated, and prosperous East African Community, where the rule of law is the cornerstone of our shared future.”
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ramadhan Abubakar Mukira, the President of the East African Law Society, reminded the delegates that justice and regional integration must leave no one behind. He emphasized the need for continuous dialogue between the Bar and the Bench, urging legal practitioners and judicial officers to collaborate in addressing challenges such as compliance with court decisions, accessibility of justice, and adherence to the EAC Treaty. He commended the longstanding partnership between the EALS and the EACJ, calling for innovative solutions that will strengthen the Court’s visibility, efficiency, and impact.
Some of the key recommendations of the Inaugural Bar- Bench Forum included:
1. A Call for the EACJ to revise its Rules of Procedure with the aim of:
a. making the EACJ litigation processes more user-friendly for lawyers and other litigants;
b. expanding virtual hearings and single-judge proceedings to expedite case resolution; and
c. incorporating a chapter on procedures and processes for monitoring implementation of decisions.
2. Establishment an EAC Bar-Bench Committee, with the possibility of further establishing a Sub-Committee on Rules. This can be established formerly within the Rules of Procedure of the Court;
3. The EACJ to consider a dedicated Chamber, or other institutional framework to expeditiously hear matters under certificate of urgency;
4. The EACJ Registry to be more strict in ensuring full adherence to timelines. These include timelines for filing References and/or Applications, Responses, Evidence and Submissions;
5. All stakeholders present, including the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), to robustly engage Partner States to ensure adequate and timeous funding to all EAC Organs and Institutions, especially to the EACJ;
6. The Council of Ministers to establish EACJ Sub-Registries in EAC Partner State that have none and to utilize existing Sub-Registries more to promote expeditious disposition of matters;
7. Work collaboratively to enhance the mobilization of Partner support to the EACJ for purposes of facilitating the Court with equipment, revamp the EACJ case management system and capacity building programmed for litigators and litigants;
8. Lawyers (both public and private Bar, and the Office of the Counsel to the Community) to improve the quality of pleadings and submissions made before the EACJ. This will make the work of judges easier and help in expeditious disposition of matters;
9. All stakeholders to engage EAC Partner States and citizens to amend the Treaty to:
a. Ensure representation of each Partner State in each Division of the Court.
b. Extend the time limitation for filing References, in order to allow Applicants sufficient time to explore Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) before initiating litigation;
10. Advocate for the resourcing of each Judge of the EACJ with at least one Research Assistant to ease their workload and enhance efficiency;
11. Advocate for the review of training curricula in Law Schools across the region to entrench from a young age the concept of a regional legal system and use of the EACJ as the judicial arm of the Community;
12. The EACJ and EALS to work closely with the East African Legislative Assembly to update the draft EACJ Administration of Justice Bill, which will enhance the functioning of the EACJ;
13. EALS Council and other stakeholders to have direct engagements with Heads of State and Ministers from EAC Partner States, with the aim of presenting important and urgent matters that promote access to justice including fully capacitating the EACJ; and
14. The EACLS to undertake a fresh study be conducted on the status of implementation of the Court’s decisions. This will create a bench mark for advocacy and further strengthening the Court’s standing as a key organ of the EAC.
In conclusion, The Inaugural EACJ Bar-Bench Forum established a foundation for ongoing reforms and deeper collaboration between the Bar and Bench. Moving forward, it was agreed that the stakeholders will work to implement these resolutions and strengthen the rule of law and regional integration across the East African Community.
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
Ag. Registrar,
East African Court of Justice.
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: 255-27-2162149
Email: cmwekesa@eachq.org