The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is marking 25 years of existence amid renewed calls to strengthen enforcement of its judgments, clear a growing case backlog and expand its jurisdiction to address emerging regional issues.
More than 200 delegates, including Chief Justices, judges, government officials and legal practitioners from the eight East African Community (EAC) Partner States, are attending the silver jubilee celebrations.
The anniversary has provided an opportunity to assess the Court’s achievements since its establishment while examining institutional challenges that could shape its next phase.
A major focus of the discussions is how to improve the implementation and enforcement of the Court’s decisions to ensure that its judgments translate into meaningful outcomes for citizens and institutions across the region.
Participants are also examining proposals to expand the Court’s jurisdiction to cover emerging areas such as trade, investment and monetary matters, potentially widening its role in resolving disputes within the regional bloc.
The celebrations have brought together current and former judicial officials, including EACJ Judge Agrey Muchelule, former EACJ Judge Ann Amadi and former EACJ Judge Charles Nyachae.
Discussions are also exploring how the Court can use its dispute resolution mandate to contribute more effectively to addressing regional disagreements over the next 25 years.
A key highlight of the anniversary is the launch of the EACJ Strategic Plan for 2026/2027 to 2031/2032, which outlines the institution’s priorities for the coming five years.
The plan prioritises reducing the case backlog, improving access to justice through technology and strengthening the Court’s institutional independence.
As the EACJ enters its next chapter, the discussions are centred on making regional justice more accessible, strengthening compliance with its rulings and reinforcing the rule of law across the East African Community.
