President Yoweri Museveni has pledged support for alternative dispute resolution as a way of expediting case resolution and promote reconciliation.
In a speech read by the Vice President Jessica Alupo at the Summit of African Chief Justices held in Kampala, Museveni underscored the importance of supporting alternative dispute resolution initiatives to facilitate the swift resolution of cases and alleviate the burden of backlog within the judicial system.
He pledged to provide resources and training for judiciary officers to enhance their capacity in implementing alternative dispute resolution effectively.
"The support for alternative dispute resolutions will enhance quick expedition of cases on top of promoting gratification and reconciliation among litigants," he said.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo emphasized the significance of alternative dispute resolution as a fundamental solution to alleviate the mounting case backlog plaguing the Judiciary.
He expressed optimism that prioritizing alternative dispute resolution would provide relief and streamline the resolution process for the over 42,000 pending cases.
"Alternative dispute resolution is now the basic hope that the Judiciary looks up to, to get relieved from the biting case backlog," remarked Dollo.
The summit coincided with the attainment of Masters Degrees in dispute resolution by top officials from the justice, law and order sector, led by Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo and Justice Minister Norbert Mao.
This educational achievement further underscores the commitment of Ugandan officials to enhance their expertise in alternative dispute resolution methodologies.
With over shs80 trillion stuck in commercial disputes, the implementation of alternative dispute resolution is poised to not only alleviate the backlog but also unlock significant economic resources tied up in legal disputes
