President Museveni Opens SEACJF Conference, Urges Chief Justices to Link Justice With Economic Growth
Group Photo: Chief Justices with His Excellence, President Museveni at the Opening Ceremony of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices' Forum at Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo
Earlier, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially opened the Southern and Eastern Chief Justices' Forum (SEACJF) Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.
Hosted by the Judiciary of Uganda, the event brought together Judiciaries from Southern and Eastern Africa, as well as distinguished guests from various arms of government, international bodies and academia.
Participants included delegates from Lesotho, Eswatini, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.
President Museveni highlighted the crucial role of justice in promoting prosperity. He urged Chief Justices to integrate justice with economic growth, advocating fora synthesis of traditional African and modern legal principles to address the continent's unique challenges. He asserted that contextualizing African legal systems within global frameworks is essential for effective governance.
President Museveni also urged African intellectuals, including members of academia, technocrats, and legal professionals, to adopt an organic approach to addressing societal issues. He argued that justice is more likely to prevail in a society where conditions favor growth and prosperity.
He emphasized that a growing economy provides financial resources to support Judiciaries, enabling justice to flourish.
President Museveni also emphasized that many societal tensions stem from a lack of knowledge and superstition, asserting that education promotes enlightenment.
He called for advancements in science and technology as catalysts for societal growth. While acknowledging the Judiciary's role, President Museveni emphasized that intellectuals should recognize the benefits of human progress within an organic framework.
He asserted that African societies must evolve organically, which involves improving the levels of science, technology, managerial skills, and wealth production. This economic foundation serves as the basis for culture and legal systems, forming a superstructure that influences societal development.
In his remarks, Justice Bheki Maphalala, Chief Justice of Eswatini and Chairperson of SEACJF, thanked the Ugandan Government for hosting the Forum and the Ugandan Judiciary for its hospitality. Justice Maphalala also welcomed the Chief Justices of South Sudan, Somalia, and Burundi, expressing hope they would soon join the Forum as full members.
Justice Maphalala explained that SEACJF, established in 2003, is a voluntary association of Chief Justices from Southern and Eastern Africa aimed at promoting the independence of Judiciaries, human rights, and access to justice. The Forum also advocates for the welfare of judges, and cooperation with global judicial structures.
He noted that the Conference focuses on the separation of powers and the need to safeguard judicial independence, especially in countries where it remains under threat. He also addressed the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources by foreign interests, which has fueled poverty across the continent, calling for African unity to utilize resources locally.
Justice Maphalala praised President Museveni’s efforts to improve Uganda's Judiciary, including better salaries, post-retirement packages, and infrastructure projects such as the newly constructed Twin Towers, which houses the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He called for increased financial support for African Judiciaries to address challenges like inadequate funding and poor working conditions.
Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo, Chief Justice of Uganda, warmly welcomed participants to the Conference and expressed gratitude for their support in promoting the rule of law and justice.
He highlighted Uganda’s efforts to improve access to justice through judicial reforms. These include expanding court services, combating corruption, and streamlining court procedures among other reforms. He also noted the success of Uganda’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) initiatives and the introduction of technological advancements such as the Electronic Court Case Management and Information System (ECCMIS).
Justice Owiny - Dollo emphasized that access to justice is a fundamental human right crucial for democracy, good governance, and socio-economic development. He expressed hope that the Conference would inspire shared strategies to address justice challenges across the region and thanked the organizing committees for their efforts.
In his welcome remarks, Justice Mike Chibita, Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda and Chairperson of SEACJF's Local Organizing Committee, underscored the importance of the Conference as a platform for sharing judicial wisdom and experiences.
He stressed the need for collaboration and dialogue among judicial leaders to address common justice challenges and adapt to emerging trends such as technological advancements and urbanization.
He noted that the conference aims to explore judicial reforms, particularly in specialized courts and judicial appointments, to improve justice delivery.
Posted 1st, October 2024
