Gumzo La ADR is a premier five-day forum co convened by ALP Dispute Settlement Hub, the Judiciary of Uganda, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the Chief Justices’ forum on ADR. The conference seeks to establish a distinctive, African-led platform to strengthen dispute resolution practice, promote regional integration, and position Africa as a credible, reliable, and globally competitive hub for ADR.
The name “Gumzo” originates from the Kiswahili word “Mazungumzo,” meaning dialogue, is a pan African conference to convene key stakeholders and advance ADR as the continent’s preferred dispute resolution mechanism. The conference will be held in Kampala, Uganda from 9th to 13th March 2026, under the theme: Reimagining and Positioning ADR as the preferred DR mechanism for Africa.
Gumzo La ADR will be delivered over five days. The programme will feature high level keynote addresses, plenary discussions, thematic panels, practical workshops, roundtables and networking opportunities.
Through sustained dialogue, capacity building, and strategic collaboration, the forum will contribute meaningfully to the growth, credibility, and long-term sustainability of ADR across the African continent.
Gumzo La ADR will be organised through a Co-Convening Committee led by the ALP Dispute Settlement Hub, in partnership with key stakeholders in the ADR space in Africa.
The ALP Conflict Resolution Hub Mediation Service provides the most advanced global rules
intended to assist parties and mediators to take maximum advantage of the flexible
procedures available in mediation for the resolution of disputes quickly and economically.
The Mediation Service guides parties that opt for Dispute Management Clauses in their
project contracts wherein the parties to the contract can jointly appoint a mediator to work
together, in a more collaborative and mutually beneficial environment and oversee that their
contracts proceed smoothly.
The ALP Conflict Resolution Hub Arbitration Service is based on the most efficient
Arbitration Rules which help the parties and arbitrator to use the best available global
practice for the resolution of domestic and international disputes quickly and economically by way of administered arbitration on global standards.
Additionally, the Arbitration Service provides for the appointment of emergency arbitrators,
which allows the parties in need of emergency interim reliefs to make such applications even
before the constitution of the regular arbitral tribunal.
The ALP Conflict Resolution Hub Conciliation Service provides an impartial, fast and
effective conciliation operating to a uniformly high standard in both the public and private
sector.
Participation in the Conciliation Service processes is voluntary, and so are the outcomes.Solutions are reached only by consensus whether by negotiation and agreements facilitated between the parties themselves or by the parties agreeing to settlement terms proposed by the Hub Conciliation Officer who treats as confidential all information received during the course of conciliation and the service is informal and non-legalistic in practice.
The ALP Conflict Resolution Hub Ombudsman Service is a confidential, impartial and
informal service that facilitates the resolution of disputes. A Hub Ombudsman helps parties
analyze problems and assists in identifying options and can, only if requested, become
involved in trying to resolve issues.
What’s more, the Hub Ombudsman Service alert managements to systemic trends and
issues and makes recommendations for necessary changes in their fields.