| Chief Justice of Rwanda officially opens EACJ Kigali Sub-registry |
| “I would like to reaffirm that the judiciary will remain supportive of the EACJ activities where such support is required and is consistent with the integration project,” says His Lordship Sam Rugege.East African Court of Justice Arusha 10 August 2012: The East African Court of Justice officially launched its First Sub-registry in Kigali, Rwanda Friday 10 August 2012. The Chief Justice of the Republic of Rwanda His Lordship Sam Rugege, who was the Chief Guest, reaffirmed that the Rwanda judiciary will remain supportive of the EACJ activities where such support is required and is consistent with the integration project. He said It is their duty as citizens of East Africa, whether through their institutions or individual capacities, to support regional integration so that they make a contribution to the realization of a truly integrated community of nations for the mutual benefit of their people.
The Chief Justice expressed his great pleasure to officiate the important occasion of launching the East African Court of Justice Sub-Registry in Rwanda and said that upon receiving a request from the East African Court of Justice to host the Sub-Registry, he took it as their own and it became an obligation to identify suitable accommodation for it. He added that the Rwanda judiciary was proud to be the first to have an EACJ sub-registry in the region. The Chief Justice applauded the EACJ for bringing regional justice closer to its users which was consistent with the goals of the Rwandan Judiciary. His Lordship Sam Rugege noted that the Sub-registry will help Rwandans who wish to file cases with the East African Court to do so without the various challenges associated with filing cases in another country. It will no longer just be hearing about ‘‘The Arusha Court’’, Rwandans will start actually seeing their “East African Community Court” among them. The sub-registry will assist those who feel aggrieved by laws or decisions that seem to violate the East African Community Treaty and hence undermine the goals and objectives of integration, and who wish to have a determination of the EACJ and hopefully a remedial decision of the Court. The Launching ceremony was witnessed by, among others, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community Affairs Rwanda, Ambassador Bill Kayonga; Hon. Justice Harold Nsekela, Judge President of EACJ; Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary General of the East African Community; Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa , Speaker of East African Legislative Assembly; Members of Rwandan Judicial Institutions and other Stake holders. Participants will be drawn from the EACJ, EAC Secretariat and the East African Legislative Assembly, EAC Institutions, Partner States’ National Judiciaries, chambers of the Attorneys General, EAC Ministries, Bar Associations, civil society organizations and human rights commissions.
For more information please contact: Dr. John Ruhangisa, Registrar Ms. Geraldine Umugwaneza, Deputy Registrar Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department; East African Court of Justice |
