Museveni Commits Support to Traditional Justice as Alternative to Dispute Resolution

President Yoweri Museveni has reaffirmed his commitment to bolstering traditional methods of dispute resolution, signaling a shift away from colonial-era litigation practices.

The pledge comes as part of a broader initiative to revitalize traditional justice mechanisms and alleviate the burden on the judiciary.

Delivering the President's message at the Africa Chief Justices' summit on Alternative Dispute Resolution in Kampala, Vice President Jessica Alupo underscored the importance of embracing indigenous approaches to conflict resolution.

Museveni emphasized that traditional methods offer swifter and more cost-effective solutions, fostering satisfaction among disputing parties compared to prolonged court proceedings.

Recent studies have highlighted the accessibility and affordability advantages of customary justice systems over state judicial processes.

President Museveni advocates for the formalization of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to address case backlogs and promote communal peace.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo echoed the sentiment, highlighting the stark reality that only a fraction of Ugandans have access to formal courts.

He emphasized the urgent need for African judiciaries to integrate ADR practices, especially in regions grappling with post-conflict reconciliation efforts.

Drawing attention to the plight of war-torn Northern Uganda, Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo stressed the failure of formal justice systems to deliver healing and justice to affected communities.

He cited examples of successful mediation in cases of assault, adultery, and theft, contrasting them with the costly and drawn-out proceedings typical of capital offenses.

The summit, themed "Re-engineering Alternative Dispute Resolution on the African Continent," convenes Chief Justices from Uganda, Botswana, Eswatini, Tanzania, Malawi, and South Sudan.

The gathering aims to chart a course for reclaiming African dispute resolution mechanisms and promoting professional standards in ADR practices.

In a significant development, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ministry has finalized a policy to regulate Alternative Dispute Resolution governance in Uganda.

Furthermore, eleven Ugandan officials, including key judicial figures, recently graduated from Pepperdine University in California with degrees in ADR, poised to propagate professional ADR practices nationwide.

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