Africa-Press – Uganda. In a significant step toward fostering international judicial cooperation, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls and President of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, paid a courtesy visit to Uganda’s Chief Justice, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny–Dollo, at the Supreme Court in Kampala.
Accompanied by Omid Reza Nazari, International Strategy Manager at the Secretariat of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC), Sir Vos engaged in high-level discussions on the operations and structures of appellate courts in both Uganda and the United Kingdom.
The meeting offered a platform for comparative analysis of judicial systems, with particular focus on the workings of the Supreme Courts in the two jurisdictions. Both judicial leaders shared perspectives on case management, institutional challenges, and evolving legal practices.
Chief Justice Owiny–Dollo detailed Uganda’s appellate structure, emphasising the Supreme Court’s session-based operations and pre-hearing procedures.
He also spoke about the Judiciary’s colonial roots and the legacy of the East African Court of Appeal, providing context to Uganda’s dual-use Supreme Court, serving both as the final appellate court and the court of first and final instance in presidential election petitions.
The Chief Justice outlined ongoing reforms aimed at addressing case backlog and ensuring timely delivery of judgments, pointing out challenges such as loss of judicial personnel due to retirements and deaths.
He highlighted the Judiciary’s increasing use of technology, including electronic filing and digital transcription, as key strategies for boosting efficiency.
In his remarks, Sir Geoffrey Vos commended Uganda’s judicial advancements, particularly the composition of its Commercial Division, which boasts a female majority, a rare feature globally.
He applauded Uganda’s embrace of digital reforms, drawing parallels with similar innovations in courts across England and Wales.
Sir Vos also explained the UK’s appellate system, noting that while the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom hears around 40 cases annually, the Court of Appeal is responsible for the bulk of important appeals.
He emphasised the UK’s expectation for judges to deliver rulings within three months, warning that delays could be considered misconduct.
The dialogue between the two senior judges reinforced the shared commitment to justice, transparency, and international cooperation.
Both Sir Vos and Chief Justice Owiny–Dollo underlined the importance of global judicial engagement in strengthening national systems and promoting the rule of law across borders.
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