East African Court of Justice Arusha 1 July 2014: The East African Court of Justice Civil Society workshop on the role of the Court in the East African Community integration hasofficially been opened by the Minster of East African Community Affairs Uganda in Kampala at Imperial Royale Hotel.
The MinIster represented by Mr. Mujuni Lawrence, Director Ministry of East African Affairs Uganda pledged to support the Court through raising awareness of the Public on the East African Court of Justice especially the civil society and other key stakeholders of the existence of the Court. The Minister’s representative also said that the presence of the Civil Society, Private Sector, Legal fraternity, academia and all other stakeholders at the workshop demonstrates great importance attached to the Court as it focuses on protecting the rights and addressing the needs of the citizens through access to justice by the EACJ.
Mr. Mujuni also commended the Court for realizing the need for the East African to be informed on the role and procedures of the regional Court especially at a time when the Partner States are in the implementation process of the EAC Customs Union, Common Market and Monetary Union Protocols. “This is a critical period where many disputes may arise and therefore necessitating the need for regional judicial decisions with the support of the National judiciaries” He stated.
He also noted that in recognizing the fundamental role played by the Court, the Summit of the EAC Heads of State at their 15th Ordinary sitting on 30th November, 2013 in Kampala approved the Council of Ministers’ recommendation to extend the jurisdiction of the Court to cover trade and investment as well as matters associated with the East African Monetary Union. “Our Regional Court once strengthened, we will be an important building block towards the achievements of political federation the ultimate stage of our agenda” Mr. Mujuni stated.
The Minister’s representative further urged the participants being potential users of the Court to fully participate and engage the presenters and experts during the workshop to gain more knowledge on the role and functions of the Court. Mr. Mujuni on behalf of the Minister re-affirmed to remain supportive of the EACJ activities where such support is required and is consistent with the integration agenda.
The Former EACJ Judge President Hon. Justice Harold Nsekela also informed the meeting that, the EACJ is facing a lot of challenges such as the two months time limit for the litigants to file cases from the time, removal of Judges from office, tenure of judges, jurisdiction of the Court, limitation period all that affect the performance of the Court. He therefore said that the Council of Ministers should give serious thoughts to recommending Summit so that these challenges are mitigated to start with especially the judges of the First Instance Division to be full time basis because the volume of case has increased. Justice Nsekela also recommended that the Court should be fully autonomous in its operations- human resource, and financial. That as the Court continues to grow; it needs to develop its own law reports in which its judgments are reported.
The representative of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights Mr. Josh Ousted thanked the EACJ for the good cooperation and partnership and pledged continuous support of the Court in increasing visibility to promote the Regional Integration agenda.
The New Judge President of the EACJ, His Lordship Justice Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja in his closing remarks, called upon the civil society to develop interest in the matters of the Court so that it can contribute to the better functioning justice system and better public debate about the regional judiciary. He added that the Civil society has not fully recognized the central role played by the regional judiciary in society and as a result failed to pursue an in depth understanding of this key institution of the EAC.
His Lordship Dr. Ugirashebuja pointed out that, the judiciary a branch of the governance of the EAC equally important to other Organs such as EALA and the Secretariat. That today the EACJ has not been asked to adjudicate on different social issues which could lead to question; why is there such a lack of understanding, advocacy and research by and why is it that dangerous? He therefore encouraged the civil society, that the lack of understanding is un necessary, un acceptable and dangerous.
Justice Ugirashebuja finally said that the great common enterprise of developing and maintaining excellence in the administration of justice in East Africa can greatly enhance if we make and take the opportunities for informal exchanges like civil society, practitioners and judges.
The workshop was attended by the Members of the Civil Society Organization, Private Sector, Academia, legal institutions, media. In attendance also was the EACJ Registrar Prof. John Eudes Ruhangisa and Deputy Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza and Mr. Donald Deya Chief Excutive Officer Pan African Lawyers Assiciation
For more information, please contact:
Prof. Dr. John Ruhangisa Registrar
Email: ruhangisa@eachq.org
Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza Deputy Registrar
Email: umugwaneza@eachq.org
Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department;
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs;
Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: othieno@eachq.org