Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire has been elected as the Vice President of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), which sits in Arusha, Tanzania.
Kiryabwire, who is a Court of Appeal judge, will deputize Justice Nestor Kayobera who is the court president. Kayobera is from Burundi.
The appointments were made during the recent 21st ordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) heads of state. The summit was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Justice Yohane Bakobora Masara (Rwanda) will be the Principal Judge and he will be deputized by Justice Audace Ngiye (Rwanda). The appointments take effect on February 27.
Founded in 2001, the EACJ is a treaty-based judicial body of the East African Community tasked to ensure adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the East African Community Treaty of 1999.
Judges of the court serve a seven-year term non-renewable. The court hears cases on violations of the rule of law, one of the fundamental and operational principles set out in the EAC treaty.
Source: New Vision