East African Court of Appeal facts for kids

The East African Court of Appeal (EACA) was an important court that helped settle legal disagreements in parts of eastern Africa and west Asia. It was like a very high court where people could appeal decisions made by lower courts.

History of the Court

The court started in 1902. Back then, it was called the Eastern African Court of Appeal. Its main job was to hear appeals from British Kenya, the Uganda Protectorate, and Nyasaland. These were all areas controlled by Britain at the time.

Over the years, the court's name changed a few times. It became known as the East African Court of Appeal. In the 1950s, it was also called the Court of Appeal for East Africa or the Court of Appeal for Eastern Africa. The court's main office was located in Kenya.

Where the Court Served

The court's reach grew quite a lot over time. It started helping more and more places. These included the Sultanate of Zanzibar, Tanganyika, and British Somaliland.

It also served areas in what is now Yemen, like the Aden Protectorate and the Colony of Aden. Later, it covered the Federation of South Arabia and the Protectorate of South Arabia. Farther away, it also helped British Mauritius, British Seychelles, and Saint Helena.

Appeals to a Higher Court

Sometimes, even the decisions made by the East African Court of Appeal could be questioned. If someone wanted to appeal a decision further, they could ask for permission to take their case to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. This was a very high court in London, England.

The End of the Court

After Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda became independent countries, they decided to keep the court. It continued to serve as the main appeals court for the new East African Community. This community was a group of these countries working together.

However, the original East African Community ended in 1977. When that happened, the East African Court of Appeal also closed down.

See also

• West African Court of Appeal