East African Court of Justice Arusha 2 July 2014: The East African Court of Justice national judicially judges’ workshop has today concluded in Kampala.
The Minister represented by Ms. Ronah Sseluwada Commissioner in charge of Productive and Social Services Ministry of East African Affairs Uganda while opening the Judges meeting pledged continuous support to the Court through raising awareness of the Public on the East African Court of Justice to public the Civil Society, Private Sector, Legal fraternity, academia and all other stakeholders . The Minister also called upon the Judges of the National Courts to referrer matters for preliminary ruling to the EACJ as the Treaty provides to ensure adherence to law in the East African Community.
His Lordship the President of the Court, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja told the judges of the National Courts that East African Court of Justice is a very important factor on the regional integration.
Justice Ugirashebuja noted that, the EAC has achieved to an extent, legal, political and socio-economic integration and that the Community further envisages a further and deeper integration. He also said that however, the path that leads to a high level of integration is often long and sometimes bumpy, but along this path, the EACJ has been and will continue to be a crucial factor.
The Judge President also told the meeting that, the future effectiveness of the Court will depend on its relationship with the National Courts. His Lordship further stated that, Article 34 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community provides that the jurisdiction of preliminary rulings on questions raised by National Courts. “The preliminary rulings are important because they ensure the uniform interpretation of the EAC law and they give legitimacy to the EACJ and also give the National Courts the important role of enforcing EAC Law through sanctions available in the national jurisdiction.
His Lordship finally said, the Court will continue to play a crucial role in the integration process because the absence of an effective Court, the survival of the Community is endangered.
Justice James Ogoola, EACJ Judge of the Appellate Division while discussing on the Evolution of the Jurisprudence of the East African Court of Justice, said that in its short life of only twelve to thirteen years, the Court has had its hands more than full. It has had and continues to have its judicial plate overflowing with adjudicating disputes whose jurisprudential value promises to be of great impact on the life and welfare of the peoples and residents of the East African Region−especially in their quest for deeper and wider Integration in the multifarious fields contained in the enabling Treaty and its integral Protocols.
His Lordship Hon. Ogoola added that from the number and nature of the cases that have been adjudicated by the EACJ so far, a pattern and a direction of Jurisprudence is unmistakably evolving. “A good and bold start has been made by the Court in fulfilling its assigned role. A great deal more remains to be explored and attained – in pursuit of the Court’s Strategic Vision to become, “A world class Court dispensing quality justice for a United and Prosperous Community”. Justice Ogoola noted.
Mr. Josh Ousted RWI head Office Kenya informed the meeting that the institute will continue to support the EACJ sensitizing the Court in other EAC Partner States as they focus on promoting the integration agenda through strengthening the Court and the Community at large.
The workshop was attended by the the Judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court Uganda, EACJ Registrar Prof. John Eudes Ruhangisa and Deputy Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza and other staff and Mr. Donald Deya Chief Excutive Officer Pan African Lawyers Assiciation, Mr. Alejandro Fuentes, Doctor of Law, Senior Researcher Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) of Humanitarian Law Lundi University Sweden.
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