The top administrators of Southern and Eastern Africa Judiciaries have discussed ways on how to continue learning from different countries that are doing better in justice dispensation in order to improve the efficiency of all the judiciaries within the regions.
Southern and Eastern Africa Judiciary Administrators (SEAJAA) members include Uganda, Eswatini, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Seychelles, Zambia, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe.
In the meeting held at the Judiciary Headquarters in Kampala under their umbrella Association Southern and Eastern Judicial Administrators Association- SEAJAA, the Ugandan Judiciary’s permanent Secretary Dr. Pius Bigirimana noted that Uganda is still struggling with the problem of case backlog with some cases affecting the economy especially the Commercial Courts with trillions of shillings stuck there, due to the failure to have such cases disposed off in a timely manner.
Bigirimana added that other cases that continue to stagnate in the Court system are related to Land matters, construction, banking and insurance which he said have big economic implications.
He emphasized the need for the delivery of timely justice noting that the Judiciary of Uganda is still struggling with the problem of case backlog with some cases affecting the economy especially the Commercial Courts with trillions of shillings stuck there due to the failure to have such cases disposed of in a timely manner.
The Judiciary administrators are currently preparing for the East and Southern Africa Chief Justices summit to be held in September 2024 in Kampala.
According to SEAJAA- Chairperson Professor Elisante Ole Gabriel, the association seeks to exchange best practices and foster co-operation among members on matters of common concern, promote the rule of law, democracy and the independence of the Judiciary and its administration and to assist in strengthening institutions tasked with judicial administration in member countries.
He said the association was established in 2017 and currently has 13 member countries, although they are rallying other members to join for purposes of judicial cooperation and addressing pertinent issues of rule of law and the need to promote a common judicial interest.
Professor Elisante who is also the Chief Court Administrator of Tanzania’s Judiciary also urged the media to communicate Judicial matters ethically and professionally, noting that justice dispensation is delicate and when not handled properly, it can affect the public and cause confusion in communities.
Meanwhile, the judiciaries administrators also launched SEAJAA Website to enhance the association’s visibility and make it accessible to a wider audience including members and the public.
Report by: Betty Zziwa
