Kampala, Uganda | June 16, 2026 – What is the Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum, and why does its leadership matter to the future of justice on the continent?

Those are the immediate questions that arise from this development. The answers lie in the growing importance of the Forum itself, a continental body that has emerged as one of Africa’s leading platforms for judicial reform, bringing together Chief Justices from across the continent to promote innovative approaches to justice delivery, improve access to justice and strengthen public confidence in judicial institutions.

It is the leadership of this body that Chief Justice Dr. Mumba Malila has now assumed, following the formal handover of the Chairmanship from Uganda’s Chief Justice Emeritus, Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala.

Chief Justice Dr. Malila assumes the Chairmanship with a distinguished record of service marked by constitutionalism, institutional strengthening, judicial reform and a commitment to efficient justice delivery. Throughout his career, he has consistently advocated for the rule of law and for judicial systems that are effective, accessible and responsive to the needs of the people they serve.

His leadership is expected to further strengthen dialogue, cooperation and the exchange of best practices among African judiciaries as they pursue modern, innovative and people-centred approaches to the administration of justice.
More than a ceremonial transition, the handover places Zambia at the helm of a growing movement within Africa’s judiciaries to advance more efficient, accessible and responsive pathways to justice.

Established following Resolution 16 of the Africa Chief Justices’ Summit on Alternative Dispute Resolution held in Kampala in March 2024, the Forum was created to foster collaboration among African judiciaries and to champion reforms aimed at improving the administration of justice across the continent.
Its work promotes mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution mechanisms as important complements to conventional litigation. By encouraging the timely resolution of disputes, the Forum seeks to reduce case backlogs, improve access to justice and strengthen confidence in judicial institutions while contributing to the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

In reflecting on the Forum’s mission, Justice Owiny-Dollo observed that it is “not Alternative Dispute Resolution, but African Dispute Resolution” ~ a statement that captures the Forum’s broader vision of advancing justice solutions that respond to the continent’s realities while remaining firmly anchored in the rule of law.

The ceremony was attended by Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Judges of the High Court, senior judicial administrators and justice sector stakeholders from Uganda.

With Zambia now at the helm, expectations are high. Dr. Malila’s reputation as a reform-minded jurist precedes him, and his leadership is expected to bring fresh energy to the Forum’s work. The coming months will likely see increased advocacy for ADR integration into national justice systems, capacity-building initiatives, and deeper collaboration with continental bodies.