Summary:
- Justice Buteera emphasized the effectiveness of the African way of resolving disputes at the community level using elders.
KABALE: The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Richard Buteera, has said that the Judiciary will not be able to handle cases in courts of law promptly until there is a shift to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Justice Buteera made this statement on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting at Kabale High Court in Kabale District, where he inaugurated the Court of Appeal sessions to hear 25 criminal appeal cases.
Justice Buteera emphasized the effectiveness of the African way of resolving disputes at the community level using elders. He highlighted that this method often results in greater satisfaction for the parties involved, unlike the formal legal system which tends to focus on a winner-takes-all outcome and can be biased towards the state.
He suggested that if cases could be resolved quickly and to the satisfaction of all parties with the involvement of religious and local leaders, such as in land disputes where leaders could help establish boundary markers, it would be beneficial. Justice Buteera advocated for resolving matters in this traditional African way.
CUE IN JUSTICE BUTEERA….ON THE MATTER……ENG//
Kabale Chief Magistrate, His Worship Derrick Byamugisha, reported that the Kabale circuit currently has 1,489 pending cases.