East African Court of Justice Arusha 16 April 2015: The two days training for judges of the Court on emerging trends in arbitration is organized by the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP) in collaboration with the Court.
In his opening remarks the Judge President Hon. Justice Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja commended the support by the ISLP in strengthening the Court in handling arbitration issues through training of the Judges. He added that this program has come at a time when the Court is in need of more skills and knowledge in arbitration and that this will benefit the East Africans who are willing to bring matters to EACJ for Arbitration rather than taking them outside the Region.
His Lordship further said that the public is not aware of the Court’s jurisdiction on arbitration and this is the right time for the litigants to approach the Court for arbitration. He said that the Court has so far received 1 arbitration matter and expect more to be filed to the Court in future as people realize the opportunities available.
The facilitator Professor Markham Ball who is an Arbitrator and a mediator told the Judges that the purpose of this training is to transform the Court in handling arbitration matters; where the Court may want to be in future and that arbitration is popular in the business community as well as the investors.
He also emphasized that arbitration is efficient especially in dealing with business and the Court plays a big role in enforcing arbitration awards. He said that during the training they will look at modernizing Court’s existing rules of Arbitration in order to optimize the Court’s efficiency as an arbitration Institution.
The EACJ, ISLP and Professor Ball signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 5th April 2015 with the goal to; assist the Court in its efforts to build the capacity of the Court to further promote the knowledge and practice of arbitration in East Africa as well as become a prominent arbitration centre institution; assess the strength and weaknesses of the Court and provide advice on possible modification of EACJ Rules
In attendance were all Judges of the Appellate and First Instance Divisions accompanied by the Ag. Registrar Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza.
Notes for editors
The International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP), a leading international nonprofit organization based in New York that provides pro bono legal services by highly experienced practicing or retired lawyers and judges to promote the rule of law, human rights and equitable economic development worldwide.
Prof. Markham Ball is a leading figure within, and pioneer of, the field of international arbitration. A former Rhodes Scholar and graduate of Harvard Law School in 1960, he begun his legal career clerking for Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court Earl Warren. Since that time has served as counsel in approximately 60 international and domestic arbitrations and mediations in a variety of jurisdictions under a variety of rules.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza Ag. Registrar
Email: umugwaneza@eachq.org
Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department;
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs;
Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: othieno@eachq.org