Nairobi, Friday 27 February 2026 — The COMESA Court of Justice has launched a four-day induction programme for 12 new judges-elect, marking a significant step toward their formal assumption of office once they are appointed and sworn-in.

The judges were elected during the 27th Meeting of the COMESA Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General in 2024. They will serve in both the Appellate Division and the First Instance Division of the regional court.

The induction programme brings together members of the previous bench to facilitate knowledge-sharing and ensure institutional continuity. Opening the workshop, Judge President-elect Justice Sitwala Mwanamwambwa described the event as an important moment of transition for the Court.

This exchange is not merely retrospective; it is forward-looking,” he said. “By sharing experience across benches, we strengthen continuity, reinforce institutional memory, and sustain the confidence upon which regional courts ultimately depend.

The programme will cover key themes central to the Court’s mandate, including: Crafting judgments for a multijurisdictional audience, Investment promotion and protection in COMESA, the role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in regional integration, Judicial restraint and judicial activism in regional integration, Challenges and opportunities facing Regional Economic Community courts in Africa and the structure of the Court, the role of the Registry, and the Rules of Procedure

Justice Mwanamwambwa underscored the collective responsibility of the new bench to build upon the Court’s established jurisprudence.

As we begin this programme, our shared objective is clear: to preserve the strengths built by those who have served before us while continuing to develop a jurisprudence that responds effectively to the evolving realities of regional integration.

Five judges will serve in the Appellate Division of the Court: Justice Mwanamwambwa (Zambia), Justice Onesphore Baroreraho (Burundi), Justice Monica Kalyegira Mugenyi (Uganda) Justice Masauko Timothy Msungama (Malawi), Justice Salohy Randrianarisoa (Madagascar).

The First Instance Division will comprise of the following Judges: Justice Aggrey Muchelule (Kenya) who will serve as the Principal Judge, Justice Lavender Makoni (Zimbabwe), Justice Mazwendoda Mavuso (Eswatini), Justice Ahmed Tharwat Mohamed (Egypt), Justice Cecile Samia Bella Andre (Seychelles), Justice Ibrahim Osman Hamid (Sudan) and Justice Tewodros Getachew Tulu (Ethiopia).

Arrangements are underway for the appointment and swearing-in ceremony, which will be conducted by the Authority of the COMESA Heads of State. Upon taking office, the Judges will serve a renewable five-year term.