Kenya's Chief Justice, Lady Justice Martha Koome (L) with The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija (R)
The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, is leading a Ugandan delegation of more than 80 Judicial Officers in Nairobi, Kenya, for the 22nd East African Magistrates' and Judges' Association (EAMJA) Annual Conference. The delegation comprises Justices, Judges, the Ag. Chief Registrar, Registrars, Chief Magistrates and Magistrates Grade I, reflecting Uganda's strong commitment to regional judicial engagement and knowledge exchange.
The five-day conference is taking place at Safari Park Hotel under the theme "Justice Beyond Brick and Mortar: Unlocking Multi-Door Pathways for People-Centred Justice in East Africa." Participants have been drawn from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zanzibar, South Sudan and Somalia, making it one of the most widely attended EAMJA gatherings in recent years.
The conference was officially opened by the Deputy President of Kenya, Prof. Abraham Kithure Kindiki, who represented H.E. Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya. In his address, Prof. Kindiki stressed the importance of building justice systems that are faster, cheaper and more accessible to citizens. He noted that justice should serve as a driver of social and economic development and encouraged East African Judiciaries to embrace a multi-door approach to justice as a means of delivering the kind of services communities urgently require.
Kenya's Chief Justice, Lady Justice Martha Koome, echoed these sentiments and pointed to recent findings from a national Justice Needs Assessment, which showed that the majority of Kenyans seek justice outside the formal court system. She observed that only 10 per cent of those faced with legal needs turn to courts or tribunals, while 71 per cent rely on Alternative Justice Systems, illustrating the pressing need to rethink traditional approaches to dispute resolution. Justice Koome described justice as a necessity rather than an aspiration and emphasized that the region urgently needs multi-door pathways to address the full spectrum of justice needs.
Uganda's Deputy Chief Justice, delivered a detailed presentation on re-imagining and mainstreaming Alternative Justice Systems in Uganda. Citing Uganda's Justice Needs Report, he noted that out of every 100 justice matters that arise in communities, only 10 are presented before courts for resolution. He told delegates that these statistics validate Uganda's ongoing reforms to expand alternative avenues for dispute resolution. Dr. Zeija highlighted several initiatives led by the Judiciary of Uganda, including the launch of the National AJS Strategy in 2023, the hosting of the National ADR Conference, the passing of the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy and the hosting of the Chief Justice's Forum. He encouraged East African Judiciaries to innovate and strengthen AJS structures, saying such reforms are critical to resolving disputes more quickly, affordably and in ways that communities recognise and trust.
The President of EAMJA, Lady Justice Umugwaneza Geraldine, thanked the Deputy President of Kenya for officiating the opening of the conference and the Chief Justice of Kenya for hosting the event. She observed that this year’s discussions are focusing on strengthening the role of mediation, rethinking how communities engage with justice institutions and enhancing people-centred judicial reforms across the region. The Conference is intended to empower participants with the knowledge, networks and skills required to advance meaningful justice sector transformation in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.
The meeting continues with a series of high-level presentations and interactive sessions aimed at enhancing the delivery of inclusive, community-attuned justice across East Africa.
Posted 2nd, December 2025
