The inaugural African Continent Commercial Court Summit concluded on Saturday in Kampala with a firm commitment from judicial leaders to advance Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) across the continent. The two-day summit, held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, drew participants from over 31 countries, including Chief Justices, Judges, and Judicial Officers dedicated to improving commercial justice systems in Africa.
Closing the summit, Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo hailed the summit as a timely and interactive gathering that addressed contemporary issues affecting justice systems, economic development, and commercial practice across Africa. "There could not have been a better time for us to meet than now," he said, noting that the dialogue was driven by a shared commitment to accessible and cost-effective justice.
The Chief Justice expressed gratitude to all participating Chief Justices, judicial officers, facilitators, and development partners, including the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC), Pepperdine University, the Africa Chief Justices ADR Forum, and the International Development Law Organization, among others. He singled out Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice for England and Wales, for his thought leadership and active involvement throughout the summit.
A central highlight of the closing ceremony was the unveiling of a unified set of resolutions aimed at entrenching ADR across African jurisdictions. These include expanding stakeholder training, increasing public awareness campaigns, leveraging artificial intelligence in ADR processes, and fostering academic partnerships to introduce ADR in legal education curricula. The resolutions also addressed procedural reforms such as appellate mediation, promoting ex tempore rulings in interim matters, and limiting delays in appeals through court permissions and restrictions on stay of execution.
The Chief Justice also revealed that under the auspices of the Africa Chief Justices ADR Forum, members had recently commenced a 12-month Master's Programme in International Commercial Arbitration. This shared academic endeavor, he said, would foster continuous learning and closer collaboration among judiciaries across the continent.
As the summit concluded, Justice Owiny - Dollo extended well wishes to all participants fortheir onward journeys, affirming that the resolutions adopted would be monitored by the Forum Secretariat and presented at the next Chief Justices' Forum.
Sir Geoffrey Vos praised the lively and constructive engagements that had taken place. He emphasized that commercial dispute resolution must evolve to focus more on the needs of court users than on the interests of lawyers or judges. Describing the discussions as both practical and forward-looking, Sir Geoffrey noted that one key area highlighted was litigation funding. He warned that while it can offer significant benefits, there is a growing need to understand its implications and regulate it appropriately to prevent abuse.
He also underscored the potential benefits of removing the procedural distinctions between interlocutory and final orders, arguing that such a move could accelerate the delivery of justice. According to him, requiring permission to appeal in all instances could offer quicker and more reasoned decisions, a shift he said would be beneficial across Africa.
Sir Geoffrey commended Uganda’s Chief Justice for his leadership in presenting a set of 12 resolutions which the summit unanimously adopted. He expressed confidence that the resolutions would significantly impact the promotion of ADR across African jurisdictions.
The Summit marked a significant step toward building a collaborative and innovative judicial ecosystem for commercial dispute resolution in Africa, with plans for similar gatherings to be hosted in different jurisdictions in the years ahead.
Posted 24th, May 2025
