Uganda CJ Zeija Advocates for Regional Judicial Benchmarking Over Overseas Trips

Chief Justice Flavian Zeija has emphasized the importance of strengthening judicial ties within East Africa, urging judiciaries in the region to collaborate and exchange institutional knowledge. He hosted a Kenyan judicial delegation in Kampala, highlighting that regional cooperation is vital for improving judicial practices.

Zeija suggested that East African judiciaries should look to each other for benchmarking rather than primarily relying on overseas study tours. “It does not make sense for us to go to England for benchmarking when we have jurisdictions within our region from which we can learn,” he stated, noting that regional experiences are more relevant to their shared realities.

The Chief Justice cited Kenya’s adoption of technology, such as virtual sittings for appellate judges, as an example of valuable practices that can be shared within the region. He also discussed Uganda’s efforts to integrate the Industrial Court into the Judiciary, a move inspired in part by observations from Kenya.

The Kenyan delegation, led by Principal Judge Justice Eric Ogola, is in Uganda for a week-long visit focused on judicial cooperation and case management. Justice Ogola echoed Zeija’s sentiments, pointing out the numerous similarities in history, culture, and legal traditions between Uganda and Kenya.

He added that the delegation aimed to learn from Uganda’s successes, particularly in managing complex cases, and commended the Ugandan Judiciary for its openness in sharing both its achievements and challenges. Both judiciaries reaffirmed their commitment to building accessible, efficient, and trustworthy justice systems for their citizens.

Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/371459/zeija-urges-east-african-judiciaries-to-benchmark-regionally