ARUSHA, TANZANIA—Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged judges in the East African Community not to issue court orders that delay government infrastructure projects, warning that legal decisions that obstruct development and regional integration amount to ‘sabotage’ of the future of the region.
In remarks delivered by Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, at the East African Court of Justice’s (EACJ) 25th anniversary celebrations in Arusha, Tanzania, on Thursday, Museveni criticised what he described as ‘ideological disorientation’ among some judges.
Museveni accused judges in the region of applying European legal precedents without considering the economic realities of developing countries.
“Sometimes, I look at some of our judges—both in national courts and regional courts—and I see a slight problem of ideological disorientation. Some judges behave as if they live on the moon! They copy-paste jurisprudence from Europe without understanding the socio-economic context of a developing society,” Museveni said.
Museveni cited cases in which courts issue injunctions to stop the construction of roads, railways and hydroelectric dams over ‘minor procedural issues.’ He did not mention any specific case.
The Ugandan leader said that such decisions undermine projects intended to improve people’s livelihoods.
“For example, when a government is building a road, a railway, or a hydroelectric dam to lower the cost of electricity for manufacturers, and someone runs to court to get an injunction to stop the project for three years over some minor procedural issue—who are you helping? You are sabotaging the very people you claim to protect,” he said.
“Justice that delays infrastructure, justice that protects smugglers, or justice that frustrates regional integration is not justice; it is okukonesa, it is mis-cooking our future,” he added.
Museveni urged the EACJ to cus on protecting the Bloc’s Treaty and ensuring that member states honour their commitments to regional trade and economic integration rather than allowing legal disputes to obstruct development.
“We created this Court to be the guardian of the treaty—to ensure that when we agree to remove non-tariff barriers, when we agree on the Customs Union and the Common Market, no parochial official or greedy middleman wakes up in the morning and blocks East African goods at the border,” he said.
He described the Court as essential to building investor confidence, saying businesses need predictable and impartial mechanisms to resolve disputes involving member states.
“You are the grease in the engine of our economic integration. Without predictable, fast, and fair commercial justice, investors get frustrated, capital runs away, and our youth end up drowning in the Mediterranean Sea looking for jobs in Europe because we have choked our own money economy,” Museveni said.
He also urged the Court to align its jurisprudence with Africa’s development priorities as it prepares to implement its 2026/2027–2031/2032 strategic plan and considers expanding its jurisdiction to cover trade, investment and monetary matters.
“The law is not a suicide pact. The law is an instrument of social transformation and economic liberation,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, EACJ Judge President Nestor Kayobera stressed that judicial independence, impartiality and integrity must remain central to the Court’s work. He reaffirmed the importance of upholding the Treaty as the region pursues economic integration.
Kayobera said the Court, through its jurisprudence, has helped clarify the obligations of Partner States and advance legality, accountability and good governance within the Community.
“As we pursue these priorities, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to judicial independence, impartiality, integrity, and fidelity to the Treaty. These principles are fundamental to the Court’s credibility and must continue to guide its work in the face of evolving challenges,” he said.
The EACJ is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty. Inaugurated in November 2001, it is mandated to ensure adherence to the law in the interpretation and application of, and compliance with, the EAC Treaty.
EAC Secretary-General Stephen Patrick Mbundi said the Court has registered 1,032 cases as of August 2026. He said that number reflects the growing recognition of its role in resolving disputes arising under the Treaty.
“This is a significant indication of the increasing recognition of the Court as a forum for resolving disputes arising under the Treaty,” Mbundi said.
He said the Court’s decisions have contributed to interpreting Treaty provisions, clarifying institutional responsibilities and strengthening the principles underpinning regional integration.
However, Mbundi said the expansion of the EAC from three founding members to eight Partner States required increased investment in the Court’s judicial, financial and human resource capacity.
“We must take deliberate efforts to increase its judicial, financial and human resource capacity. Like other EAC institutions, the Court requires sufficient resources to discharge its treaty mandate effectively,” he said.
He also called for investment in digital infrastructure to improve case management and speed up the handling of disputes.
“We must also equip the Court technically with such electronic and digital facilities to ensure that it is able to expedite case management and maximise the time of the limited judicial resources,” Mbundi said.
The anniversary, held under the theme “25 Years of the East African Court of Justice: From Foundation to Future,” brought together regional judges, government officials and legal practitioners to reflect on the Court’s contribution to regional integration and its future role.
