An Examination of the Impact of Mediation as a Dispute Resolution Mechanism, A Case Study of Uganda

KOBUSINGYE RUTH 51 PAGES (13164 WORDS) Law Project

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ...............................................................................................•...................................................... i

APPROVAL ............................................•...•.........................................•............................................................... ii

DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................................................ iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................... v

ACRONYMS •..................................................................................................................................................... viii

LIST OF STATUTES .............................................................................................................................................. ix

LIST OF CASES .....................................................................................................................................•............... x

ABSTRACT ..........................•.....................................................................................................•......................... xi

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................................. l

Introduction to the study ....................................................................................................................... 1

Background to the Study ........................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Statement of the problem ................................................................................................................ 3

1.3 Purpose of the study ........................................................................................................................ 3

1.4 Research objectives .......................................................................................................................... 4

1.5 General objective ............................................................................................................................. 4

1.6 Research Questions .......................................................................................................................... 4

1.7 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................................................ 4

1. 7.1 Geographical Scope ....................................................................................................................... 4

1. 7.2 Content Scope ............................................................................................................................... 4

1.8 Significance of the study .................................................................................................................. 4

1.9 Research Methodology .................................................................................................................... 5

1.10 literature Review ........................................................................................................................... 5

1.11 Organizational layout ..................................................................................................................... 7

CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................................................... 9

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THE GENERAL OVERVIEW OF ADR BOTH GLOBAL Y AND DOMESTICALLY •.•................................•......... 9

2.1 ADR in general. ................................................................................................................................. 9

2.2 Types and classifications of ADR mechanisms •...................................•.......................................... 12

2.2.1 Arbitration .....................•............................................................................................................. 12

2.2.2 Negotiation; ................................................................................................................................ 13

2.2.3 Mediation; ..............................•........................................................................................•........... 14

2.3 The law Governing Alternative Dispute Resolution in Uganda •................................................... 16

2.3.1 The Judicature Act, Cap 13 .......................................................................................................... 16

2.3.2 The Civil Procedure Act (Cap 7) and the Civil Procedure Rules •......•.......................................... 17

2.3.3 The Arbitration and Conciliation Act (cap 4) •............................................................................. 17

2.4 MEDIATION IN UGANDA •............................................................................................................... 18

2.S legislative Provisions on Mediation: ............................................................................................. 19

2.5.1 The land Act, Cap. 227 ..•..............................................................•.....................•........................ 19

2.5.2 The Judicature Act, Cap.13: ........•............•.................................................................................. 20

The Judicature (Commercial Court Division) (Mediation) Rules, No. 55/2007 ................................... 20

2.5.3 Is Mediation Binding? ..................................................................•.............................................. 21

2.6 Court-annexed Mediation: ............................................................................................................. 21

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................................................ 23

THE CHALLENGES FACING ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN UGANDA .................................... 23

3.1 Transigent/ unreasonable parties or their legal advisors to litigation •...................................... 23

3.2 Use of ADR to delay justice •................................................................................................•....... 23

3.3 Use of ADR where it is not appropriate •........................................................................................ 24

3.4 Incompetent stuff to carry out ADR •.......................................................................................... 24

CHAPTER FOUR ................................................................................................................................................. 26

THE IMPACT OF MEDIATION AS A DESPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISM IN UGANDA •...................... 26

4.11mpact of Mediation as a Dispute Resolution Mechanism in Uganda •......................................... 26

4.2 Positive Impacts of Mediation as Dispute Resolution Mechanism •.............................................. 27

4.2.1 Confidentiality •............................................................................................................................ 27

4.2.2 Representation •........................................................................................................................... 27

4.2.3 Costs ...........................•................................................................................••.............................. 28

4.2.4 Business Relations are improved •............................................................................................... 28

4.2.5 Speed ........................................................................................................................................... 28

4.3.1 Enforceability .............................................................................................................................. 29

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4.3.2 Finality ......................................................................................................................................... 29

CHAPTER FIVE •.................................................................................................................................................. 30

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS .......................................•.................................................. 30

5.1 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 30

5.1.1 Recommendation to Mediators .................................................................................................. 30

5.1.2 Recommendations to the Government ...................................................................................... 31

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5.1.3 Recommendations to Courts of Law ........................................................................................... 32

5.2 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 33

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................•.... 35

ABSTRACT Dispute settlement is usually considered as an important issue in majorly commercial Transactions for disputes are an avoidable. In the modern era, court litigation was considered to be the main and inherent dispute resolution mechanisms including civil and criminal disputes. Contrary to the needs of civil and criminal disputes, however; Court litigation is generally characterized by, among others, cost inefficiency, adversarial nature and delay. Consequently, modern alternative dispute settlement mechanisms are becoming more popular in resolving disputes. The primary choice for civil disputes has been modern arbitration. But modern arbitration is also becoming more adversarial, costly and lengthy. Therefore, more flexible interest based Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms like mediation is becoming more important to resolve disputes. For some time, Uganda has been stifferingfrom the o~ystemic inefficiency of their Courts, with a significant impact on the guarantee of access to justice for their citizens, making alternative dispute resolution a constant presence in both civil and common law systems of the count1y. The upshot has been the institutionalization of ADRs, taking the form of a routine presence in the civil procedure code, while their practice is connected to the courts. However, both institutionalization and the obligation to take part in mediation programs before or after starting the suit are exceptional measures, which must be adopted with caution Using both qualitative & quantitative methodologies as well as primmy & secondmy data, the research examines the impact of institutionalizing mediation in Uganda and the needs to further modernize and institutionalize it to resolve disputes. The research recommends, among others, the need to reconsider the policy to institutionalize mediation on the side of the government; undertaking various legal reforms, strengthening and expanding existing court annexed mediation centers, increasing accessibility of chamber mediation in the country, establishment of new mediation centers and the need to consider establishing a regional mediation center in Kampala and other major towns in the country.