Arbitration centre wants more powers

Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC) has said it will next week convene a meeting with regional partners to seek the expansion of the centre’s mandate to be able to handle matters of international nature. The centre is an alternative mechanism for settling disputes among business enterprises. Addressing the media, officials at the centre, which is a private entity, said the meeting will hear from regional partners and chart ways to arbitrate regional litigations. KIAC Secretary-General Bernadette Uwicyeza said since the laws will be binding even to people in the region, it is imperative to bring them on board to be part of the legislative process. She said the experts from various countries will contribute to the new proposed amendment in the Arbitration Act 2008. In order to fulfil part of its mandate of advising government on matters related to arbitration, KIAC submitted to the Ministry of Justice a provisional Bill amending the 2008 law governing arbitration in commercial disputes. According to KIAC, the review would make the legislation more pro-arbitration by reducing court intervention as it is the case at the moment. As the centre hosts the international meet, it will also mark its first anniversary. The registrar of the centre, Thierry Ngoga, said they have already received four cases underway and fifteen other cases are in the pipeline. “We have been creating awareness in the East African Community on arbitrations so if a centre like this has four cases in a year, it means it is doing well and I am sure the future is bright,” Ngoga said. He said the meeting will attract over 100 arbitration professionals from east and western Africa. Some of the issues to be discussed include arbitration in EAC partner states, regionalising international arbitration and enforcing the 1958 New York convention on foreign arbitral award.

National

Arbitration centre wants more powers