By Diana N.Kintu
A major continental conference on alternative dispute resolution has opened in Kampala, bringing together justice sector leaders, policymakers, and legal practitioners from across Africa to explore ways of strengthening dispute resolution systems.
The Gumzo la ADR Conference 2026, currently underway at Mestil Hotel, is being held under the theme “Reimagining and Positioning ADR as the Preferred Dispute Resolution Mechanism for Africa.” The five-day forum has attracted judges, legal experts, mediators, and government officials seeking to promote faster, more accessible, and cost-effective justice mechanisms.
Opening the conference, Norbert Mao, Uganda’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, emphasised the growing importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in transforming the country’s justice system. He noted that strengthening ADR processes would enable citizens to resolve disputes more efficiently, fairly, and affordably.
According to Mao, the judiciary’s ongoing reforms are aimed at ensuring that justice serves the needs of ordinary citizens rather than prolonging disputes through lengthy litigation.
“Ultimately, the journey towards ADR is about the people we serve,” Mao said. “Justice should resolve disputes efficiently and fairly, rather than allowing cases to remain in the courts for years.”
He also reflected on his collaboration with Flavian Zeija, Uganda’s Chief Justice, noting that strong leadership and institutional alignment have been essential to advancing judicial reforms. These reforms, he said, include streamlining court procedures and addressing the long-standing challenge of case backlogs within the justice system.
The conference programme features a series of dialogue sessions, workshops, and sector-specific panel discussions designed to explore practical approaches to expanding ADR across the continent.
On the opening day, Joyce Aluoch, a retired judge and internationally certified mediator, delivered a keynote address highlighting the growing role of mediation in resolving disputes across East Africa.
Justice Aluoch emphasised the need to professionalise mediation by establishing strong accreditation systems, continuous training programmes, and clear ethical standards for mediators. She also stressed the importance of integrating digital solutions such as online dispute resolution platforms in order to widen access to justice, particularly for communities in remote areas.
“Effective justice is measured not just by judgments, but by the conflicts it successfully resolves, strengthens public confidence and fosters trust in the judicial system,” she told participants.
Her remarks underscored the broader objective of the conference, which is to promote dispute resolution mechanisms that are faster, less adversarial and more accessible than traditional court processes.
Over the coming days, participants will engage in a range of high-level discussions addressing contemporary dispute resolution challenges across Africa.
One of the key sessions scheduled is a Policy Reflections Panel that will examine mediation of complex public disputes. The discussion will focus on areas such as infrastructure development, employment conflicts, land disputes, natural resource management, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.
The panel is expected to feature senior judges from the Judiciary of Uganda as well as government officials and legal experts who will share practical insights on how ADR can be used to resolve disputes that often involve multiple stakeholders.
The Judiciary of Uganda, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the ALP Dispute Settlement Hub, and the African Chief Justices ADR Forum jointly organise the conference. The forum is part of broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s dispute resolution ecosystem and encourage greater adoption of ADR mechanisms within national justice systems.
Strategic partners supporting the event include CIArb Uganda Branch, reflecting growing collaboration between judicial institutions and professional arbitration bodies.
The organisers say the conference also highlights Kampala’s emergence as a key regional centre for dialogue and innovation in dispute resolution. The forum will run until 13 March, with participants expected to develop recommendations aimed at strengthening ADR frameworks across Africa and improving access to justice for citizens.