The Chief Justice, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, and the Chief Justice of the Republic of Zambia, Justice Dr. Mumba Malila, have called for stronger collaboration between judiciaries and institutions of higher learning to advance legal education, judicial reform, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) across Africa.
The two Chief Justices made the remarks during a joint courtesy visit to Makerere University School of Law on Monday, where they engaged faculty members, students, and university leaders on the future of legal education and access to justice on the continent.
The visit formed part of Justice Malila’s official engagements in Uganda following his assumption of leadership of the Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum (ACJADRF).
The Chief Justices were received by the Dean of Makerere University School of Law, Prof. Ronald Naluwairo, alongside faculty members and students.
Speaking during the engagement, Zeija described the visit as a homecoming, reflecting on his journey as both a student and lecturer at Makerere University School of Law.
He paid tribute to the institution for shaping generations of legal professionals and commended its decision to introduce Alternative Dispute Resolution as a standalone course.
“When we were in law school and later at the Law Development Centre, no one ever told us that disputes could be resolved through ADR. We were trained primarily for litigation. The introduction of ADR as a standalone course is a very important development,” he said.
Zeija emphasized the vital role that legal scholars play in enriching judicial decision-making through research and scholarship.
He cited the contribution of academics who have participated as amici curiae in landmark constitutional and electoral cases, helping to strengthen Uganda’s jurisprudence.
To deepen collaboration between the Judiciary and Makerere University, Zeija revealed plans to formalize cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Judiciary, through the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), and the School of Law.
The partnership is expected to focus on judicial training, legal research, and knowledge exchange.
Malila, who previously served as a law lecturer at the University of Zambia, highlighted the relationship between academia and public service.
“I spent many years teaching law at the University of Zambia, and there is a unique sense of fulfillment in meeting former students who have gone on to become leaders and professionals,” he said.
Malila commended Makerere University’s long-standing reputation as one of Africa’s leading institutions of higher learning, recalling how it earned recognition across the continent as the “Oxford of Africa.”
He welcomed the School of Law’s efforts to mainstream ADR education and described legal training institutions as critical partners in advancing access to justice.
“One of the objectives of the Africa Chief Justices’ ADR Forum is to encourage universities and training institutions to mainstream ADR. We want to reach a point where students can specialize in ADR and graduate as professional ADR practitioners,” he said.
Malila noted that while traditional legal education has largely focused on adversarial litigation, the future of justice requires greater emphasis on mediation, negotiation, arbitration, and other collaborative methods of dispute resolution.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, Prof. Ronald Naluwairo congratulated Justice Malila on assuming leadership of the Africa Chief Justices’ ADR Forum and reaffirmed the School of Law’s commitment to supporting ADR initiatives across Africa.
He also noted that many of Uganda’s leading legal figures, including the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, Attorney General, and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, are alumni of the institution.