This Strategic Plan for Governance and Security Programme – Access to Justice Sub Programme [Thematic Area] covers the period 2020/2021-2024/2025.

The Governance and Security Programme goal is to improve adherence to the rule of law and capacity to contain prevailing and emerging security threats.

The Programme brings together 29 Government Agencies responsible for upholding the Rule of Law, ensuring Security, maintaining Law and Order, Public Policy Governance, administration of justice, promoting Human Rights, accountability, and transparency.

This Programme contributes to the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) 2020/21-2024/25 objective five of strengthening the role of the State in development. The Access to Justice Sub Programme brings together 17 institutions responsible for administering justice, maintaining law and order, and promoting the observance of human rights. This Sub Programme draws State and Non-State Actors (NSAs) who play complementary roles in planning, budgeting, Programme implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

DOWNLOAD THE A2J STRATEGIC PLAN (2020 - 2025)

This is the Committee comprised of all heads of institutions, who are ultimately accountable for the delivery of JLOS services in the country and is responsible for political leadership and guidance to the Sector.  It is responsible for the articulation of the JLOS Vision and Sector development policy. The Leadership Committee is comprised of the following officials:

1. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MoJCA)
2. The Attorney General
3. Minister of Internal Affairs
4. Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
5. Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development
6. Minister of Local Government
7. Minister of State for Internal Affairs
8. Minister of State for Justice/Deputy Attorney General
9. Director of Public Prosecutions
10. Chairperson of the Uganda Law Reform Commission
11. Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission
12. Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission
13. Chairperson of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau
14. Chairperson CADER Governing Council
15. Chairperson LDC Management Committee
16. Chairperson Tax Appeals Tribunal
17. Chairperson Citizenship and Immigration Board
18. Chairperson of the NGO Bureau
19. Chairperson of the Board-Amnesty Commission
20. Chairperson National Identification and Registration Authority
21. Chairperson Steering Committee- (ex officio)
22. Chairperson Technical Committee- (ex officio)
23. Senior Technical Advisor- JLOS Secretariat – (ex officio)

The Leadership Committee may co-opt any institution(s), individuals, Development Partners, or Non-State Actors as deemed necessary to their meetings. The Leadership Committee may create Ad hoc or Standing committees to support its work. The Leadership Committee will determine its rules of procedure. The Leadership Committee meets a minimum of two times a year.

Hon. Nobert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs is the current chairperson of the Access to Justice Leadership Committee.

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By Timothy Lumunye

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is now a global health emergency, affecting more than a billion people worldwide. In more and more countries, normal life has effectively been suspended, as sweeping measures are introduced to control the spread of the disease by way of ‘lockdowns’, bans on social gatherings, and the closure of public facilities. These measures have also had an impact on criminal justice systems, as access to courts and prisons has come under severe restrictions. The administration of justice cannot come to a total standstill, whatever the circumstances.

It is essential that the Justice, Law and Order Sector continues to carry out essential functions, including the processing of criminal cases, and safeguarding the rights and welfare of accused persons, especially those who are on remand.

The accused persons on remand should be able to participate in criminal justice proceedings in person, and it is especially crucial that they are physically present in the courtroom during trial. This is not possible currently, because of the restrictions imposed by Uganda Prisons, in line with the standard public health guidelines.  The accused absence from the courtroom seriously undermines their ability to participate in criminal justice proceedings effectively, and the exercise of the rights of the defence.

Its high time Uganda Prisons came up with measures to enable inmates on remand attend court proceedings and prevent an unprecedented backlog of cases that could harm the effective administration of justice in the future.  This can be done in a phased manner, by opening up first, less congested Prison facilities. 

The Judiciary has taken extraordinary measures to keep criminal justice systems operational, preventing lengthy delays in criminal proceedings, and ensuring that urgent matters, such pre-trial detention hearings, are not postponed. The Judiciary does not however work in a vacuum and relies on other stakeholders in the Justice, Law and Order Sector (such as Police, Prisons, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) for it to be effective. With these stakeholders also substantially limited by the lockdown and other COVID-19 related restrictions, court business has literally ground to a halt, in as far as access to justice for accused persons on remand is concerned. 

Timothy Lumunye is a Grade 1 Magistrate at Nateete Rubaga court

Published: 24th March 2021

A new study supported by Sweden reveals justice needs of Ugandans. The study was carried out by HiiL Innovating Justice and launched by the Principle Judge Hon. Dr. Yorokamu Bamwine in Kampala on April 13, 2016.

The study shows that over a period of four years 90% of Ugandans experience justice needs, the most prevalent problems being related to land, family matters and crime. The study further showed that the Local Council Courts are the most trusted institution both for seeking information and solving disputes. The Embassy of Sweden is currently working with JLOS partners to design a new programme to enhance Access to Justice and Rule of Law in Uganda.

The study titled “Justice Needs in Uganda: Legal problems in daily life” is authored by Johanna Piest, Sam Muller, Martin Gramatikov, Kavita Heijstek-Ziemann, Jamila Sallali  (Published in 2016).

WATCH Launch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHoICraVrms 

DOWNLOAD Report: http://www.hiil.org/publication/uganda_report