On November 15, 2024, the President of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), Justice Nestor Kayobera, along with other EACJ judges, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Legal Information Institute (AfricanLII) and Laws.Africa.
Representing AfricanLII at the signing ceremony was Mariya Badeva, the Project Lead and Africa Director.
The signing ceremony was also attended by the Acting Registrar of the Court, Christine Mutimura, and the Court Administrator.
The MOU formalizes the collaboration between EACJ, AfricanLII, and Laws.Africa to enhance the digitization and dissemination of EACJ jurisprudence. The main objective of the partnership is to make the Court's decisions and other legal documents easily accessible to the public, legal professionals, scholars, and other stakeholders across the East African region.
The signing took place at the headquarters of the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania.
The MOU was signed on November 15, 2024.
This collaboration seeks to improve access to justice and increase transparency in the legal system.
By digitizing the EACJ's jurisprudence, it will make the Court’s rulings readily available to a broader audience, thus supporting the rule of law, enhancing legal research, and promoting judicial efficiency.
Justice Kayobera highlighted that this initiative is vital for ensuring the open access of EACJ’s judgments, which is key to improving the legal landscape in the region.
The EACJ, AfricanLII, and Laws.Africa will work together on several key initiatives, including Disseminating publicly available EACJ documents on the EACJ website and AfricanLII's regional platform.Assisting in the digitization and publication of the Court's jurisprudence.
Providing training on electronic legal research for EACJ judges and staff. Holding regular consultations to identify further projects that support their shared mission of improving access to justice.
The partnership also acknowledges AfricanLII’s long-standing collaborations with national and regional judiciaries across Africa, with AfricanLII having previously worked with the COMESA Court. Mariya Badeva expressed her gratitude for this new partnership, which she believes will significantly contribute to the accessibility and dissemination of EACJ’s judgments and other essential legal information.
Principal Judge of the Court, Justice Yohane Masara, also expressed his appreciation for the partnership, noting the positive outcomes ofm AfricanLII's previous collaboration with the Judiciary of Tanzania and expressing optimism for the impact of this new agreement.
This MOU marks a crucial step in the effort to enhance the rule of law and improve access to legal information in the East African region and beyond.
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