The Chief Justice, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny - Dollo, has called on African Judiciaries to embrace arbitration and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a way of enhancing access to justice, investor confidence, and the continent's global competitiveness.
Speaking while flagging off the Africa Chief Justices Arbitration Summit at Pepperdine University's Châteaud'Hauteville campus in Geneva, Justice Owiny - Dollo reminded participants that the idea of creating the Africa Chief Justices Forum on ADR was first conceived in Kampala on 4th March 2024. That the meeting, which drew Chief Justices from Malawi, Zambia, The Gambia, Kenya, Ghana, and the President of the East African Court of Justice, laid the foundation for the milestones now being celebrated.
He noted that since its inception, the Forum has built momentum through joint training, benchmarking, and experience sharing, which have strengthened member Judiciaries' capacity to adopt ADR. He further observed that the ongoing Summit is the Forum's second gathering outside Africa, following last year's successful conference at the same Geneva venue. The Chief Justice urged participants, especially those attending virtually, to actively engage with the sessions, which he described as "rich in learning and inspiration."
Justice Owiny - Dollo commended Pepperdine University for its unwavering partnership with the Forum, singling out Senior Vice President Danny DeWalt and faculty of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution for their role in advancing ADR across Africa. He emphasised that arbitration provides parties with neutrality, confidentiality, and the freedom to choose governing laws and arbitrators, with the added advantage of enforceability of awards under the 1958 New York Convention. He stressed that strong arbitration frameworks are indispensable for building business confidence and positioning African countries as reliable and fair destinations for investment.
The week-long Summit, organised by the Africa Chief Justices Forum on ADR, brings together 25 Judiciaries from across the continent. The 16-hour hybrid programme is examining the legal, regulatory, and administrative frameworks that govern arbitration in Africa.
As part of the Summit's activities, Uganda’s Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, virtually led an online breakout session involving a simulated arbitration exercise, which was later presented in plenary. Judges of the Commercial Division o also participated virtually, alongside their counterparts from Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Zanzibar.
The Forum's Chief Justices also held strategic meetings with the Geneva-based Court of Arbitration for Sport and the International Olympic Museum, with the aim of benchmarking global best practices and laying the groundwork for the establishment of an Africa Sports Arbitration Tribunal.
Uganda's physical delegation in Geneva comprises the Chief Justice, Lady Justice Okuo Jane Kajuga (Acting Principal Judge), Justice Cheborion Barishaki (Justice of the Court of Appeal and the East African Court of Justice), Justice Prof. Andrew Khaukha (Executive Director of the Judicial Training Institute), and HW Lochomin Peter Fred(Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice). The virtual delegation, led by the Deputy Chief Justice, includes Justices Anna Mugenyi Bitature, Susan Abinyo, Patricia Mutesi, Patricia Kahigi Asiimwe, Ocaya Thomas Ojele Rubanga, Rubagumya Tumusiime Patience Emily, Ginamia Melody Ngwatu, and Susan Odongo, as well asHW Lillian Bucyana, HW Dr. Nakibuule Gladys Kisekka, and HW Nasambu Esther Rebecca.
Posted 30th, October 2025
