Uganda is set to host the 2nd Annual East African Court of Justice Judicial Conference which is scheduled for 26th- 28th October 2022 in Kampala, under the theme, “Transforming Access to Justice in the East African Community”. President Museveni is expected to grace the event. 

The overall objective of the Conference is to stimulate high-level conversations and discussions on emerging legal and judicial issues including, emerging jurisprudence, issues affecting Courts and Court users and provide a platform for information sharing among judges, judicial officers and legal practitioners and other Court users in the region.

According to the organisers, “there will be a keynote address on “Shaping East Africa Through Advancing Access to Justice” which shall be delivered by Prof Frederick Ssempebwa, and shall form the basis for the Panel Discussion of the Chief Justices from the East African Community Partner States.”

The 2nd Annual EAC Judicial Conference is expected to draw participants from the 7 East African Community (EAC) Partner States who shall include Chief Justices, Ministers of Justice, Attorneys General, Ministers in charge of EAC Affairs, Judges from regional and national courts

Others will include Heads of EAC Organs and Institutions, Members of Parliament, legal practitioners, members of the academia, representatives of civil society organisations, representatives of the private sector and the media.

At the conclusion of the conference, the East African Court of Justice shall hold its annual rotational court sessions during the month of November at the Commercial Court of Uganda premises in Kampala.

During the 2nd Judicial Conference, a number of topics will be discussed and these will include one Court, mixed Systems in the East African Court of Justice as a Regional Court that encompasses the Common Law and Civil Law systems, the role of national and regional courts in bridging the access to justice gap for Cross-Border Trade disputes, access to justice and equality before the Law, removing barriers at National and Regional courts, the Internet as an enabler of freedom of expression and public debate, implications for the rule of law, alternative dispute resolution realities, deterring factors and solutions modernization of courts, shared experiences on the digitisation of courts, judicial resource limitations and the effect on judicial efficiency.

To mark the 20th Anniversary of the EACJ, the Court in 2021 launched the rotation of its November Court Sessions, with the 1st rotational session being held in Bujumbura, Burundi from 8th – 26th November, 2021.

“The objective of rotating the Court’s November sessions is to bring the services of the Court closer to the people and to enhance the visibility of the Court as it undertakes its mandate of promoting access to justice by ensuring adherence to law in the interpretation and application and of compliance with the EAC Treaty.”

The Court through its mandate continues to settle disputes and develop key jurisprudence on matters of regional integration.

The Court mainly handles disputes arising from the violation of fundamental and operational principles that govern the achievement of the objectives of the Community by the EAC Partner States as enshrined in the Treaty under Articles 6 (d) and 7 (2). 

These principles include good governance, adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, equal opportunities, gender equality as well as recognition, promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in accordance with the African charter on Human and Peoples’ rights.

The EACJ cannot undertake its mandate independent of Partner States’ support and collaboration and it’s in that regard that the President of the Court, Justice Nestor Kayobera has been engaging with senior government officials from the Ministry of EAC Affairs, the Judiciary as key stakeholders in the activities of the Court.

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A group blood donation event was held in Nansana, on Oct 9th,  2022, Uganda’s independence day with 2025 people to save lives under the theme, “Save Life with Shincheonji”.

The event was decided abruptly due to a message from Nakasero Blood Bank to the Youth Group ‘We Are One’ that they are currently experiencing a crisis on the blood supply shortage.

The Shincheonji Youth Volunteer Group “We Are One” was inaugurated on 30 July 2022 in South Korea to help out people who are in need by donating blood and other volunteer activities.
Following this, the Youth Volunteer group ‘We Are One’ Uganda held its inauguration ceremony on 24 September 2022 for the local communities in Uganda and hereafter the youth group members participated in voluntary activities by picking up trashes on the streets voluntarily to make the streets organized.

Mr. David Nkwanga, the representative of the Youth Group ‘We Are One’ said, “It is more meaningful because it was a blood donation that a lot of young adults in Uganda participated in with one heart for the good work. I think our future is bright when we start to love our neighbors, helping them according to the teaching of Jesus Christ.  I would like to express my gratitude to all who came running to the news that they are suffering from a blood supply shortage nationwide, and we will diligently serve as light and salt and give glory to God,”

Nampewo Shamrat a resident of Nansana Nsumbi said she is glad to be part of the occasion and she was happy because what she has seen is an unusual selfless act and cannot easily be seen anywhere.  She further said that the act of donating blood is good because we lack blood a lot because of people giving birth and those in accidents. In fact, we need a lot of blood and so scj church had done an unusual thing donating blood twice the same year she added. I have never seen that anywhere also would like to urge other churches and people to copy from this church. So thank you shincheonji church for the blessing to our community.

Nsejje Mary another resident says she is happy with the activity of blood no nation and she further said that Just like the we see in the bible, Jesus is the only person who poured blood for the whole world to save mankind from sin and death.  Shincheonji church of Jesus Youth has done it in actual reality emulating Jesus Christ to donate blood to save lives. Blood is needed because when you look at the situation we are in especially pregnant mothers. Shincheonji has shown a great example so we i am also arguing for other churches to do the same the way. She also appreciates the Shincheonji Youth group called “We are one” for organizing the event.

Samuel David Wante on behalf of Uganda Blood Transmission service thanked those who participated in this blood donation and further said in situations where blood is needed there is no other solution, blood is life. He added that malaria is on the increase in Eastern and Western Uganda this malaria destroys blood cells in the body therefore blood is needed.
He added that it is also beneficial to the donor to donate blood. It reduces the chances of getting diseases like high blood pressure, and blood clot issues amongst others. He, therefore, urged people to donate blood to have a happy life and at the same time save others. 450000 units of blood at least are needed in the year to save lives in Uganda. He lastly urged media houses to promote this work of blood donation.

In this donation, a total of over 574 blood units were collected.

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