MUNYONYO – President Yoweri Kaguta has vowed to work with other stakeholders in ensuring that Uganda gets a law governing Money lending business.
While officiating the grand opening of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justice’ Forum (SEACJF) at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Museveni noted that lack of clear regulations on money lending in Uganda, has created a lee way for unscrupulous individuals to cheat Ugandans under the guise of lending them money.
Money lenders are becoming a problem in this country, they cheat our villagers by charging them extortionently. They charge them 240 percent interest in an economy where inflation rate is 2 percent.”
Museveni also pointed out that many if these individuals hide under contract law by asking people they lend money to sign agreements indicating that they have sold them the items used as collateral security well as not.
“You find a villager who doesn’t know what he is signing because he wants money. If its me handling such a case , I would ask myself for example : why would a house in Munyonyo cost one miiion shillings?” Museveni noted
He also asked the African Chief Justices to think about prioritizing some of the African Despute Resolution mechanisms because they take less time, cheap and promote a spirit of brother hood compared to western middle class legal system.
“We are grateful for the warm hospitality, which has been extended to us since our arrival, I extend my gratitude to the Chief Justice of Uganda for providing the necessary facilities and conducive environment which is essential for the success of this conference and Annual General meeting.”
He also called upon the chief Justices of Burundi , Somalia, South Sudan who are not members but attended the meeting, to officially join the forum and become full members so as to tap in the available benefits and opportunities.
Alifonse Owiny Dollo, the Chief Justice of Uganda in his address, welcomed all the guests in the country and asked them to use this conference to taste the sweet Ugandan food as well as visiting various interesting places of this this country.
“Through this Forum we are constantly reminded of the profound responsibility that calls for a willingness to learn from one another and to change our mind sets. In Africa, our justice challenges are largely common to all of us. They include Inadequate Court infrastructure, delayed adjudication (case backlog),geographical barriers, socio-economic under-development, poverty, high cost of legal services, ignorance, corruption, gender chauvinism, unintelligible cultural norms, poor technological systems, interference with judicial independence and understaffing, among others.” Remarked Dollo
He also reported to the President that as Chief Justices of African judiciaries, they are engaging themselves in a conversation over the need for the Africanization of the administration of justice within their respective jurisdictions.
“In March this year, a number of Chief Justices from the African continent held the African Chief Justices Summit on ADR, here in Kampala, and deliberated on the issue of ADR and AJS. One of the key resolutions was the establishment of the Africa Chief Justices’ ADR Forum, with the sole objective of promoting ADR in our respective jurisdictions to achieve sustainable peace and development in the continent.” stated Justice Bheki Mapalala President of SEACJF ( Chief Justice of Eswatini)
He further added that pursuant to the resolutions made at the African Chief Justices Summit on ADR, the Judiciary of Uganda conducted an ADR Week from 5th to 9th August 2024,during which the Courts encouraged court users to consider alternative modes of settling disputes and a total of 237 civil cases inclusive of 37 cases by the Court of Appeal were disposed off.
The conference kicked off on 30th September 2024 and it will close on 5th October 2024 with 18 African Chief Justice in attendance.
It is running under a theme “Enhanced Access: Underscoring Reforms in African Judiciaries”
The Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justice’ Forum (SEACJF) was established in 2003 as an Association that brings together the Chief Justices and Judges from the over 15 countries in the two regions to deliberate on contemporary issues affecting justice delivery in our countries. This Conference therefore presents an opportunity for harnessing collective wisdom and experience of our distinguished participants.
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