Today, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) hosted a high-level meeting on rights-based approach to end HIV, AIDS, TB, and Malaria within the Criminal Justice System at Hotel Africana. The meeting brought together participants from the Judiciary, Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Police Force, Governance and Security Programme (Access to Justice Sub-programme), Uganda Aids Commission, UNAIDS, Uganda Human Rights Commission, Uganda Law Reform Commission and Civil Society Organizations.

In her remarks, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Justice Jane Frances ABODO noted that, “Since the Global Fund Project on ending HIV, AIDS, TB, and Malaria within the Criminal Justice System commenced in 2021, we have sensitized a total of 360 officers from different branches of the Criminal Justice System, including Judicial Officers, Prosecutors, Police Officers, Prisons Officers, as well as Local Council 1 Members and Probation Officers. This sensitization aimed to remove barriers to accessing services related to HIV, AIDS, TB, and Malaria within our Criminal Justice System.’ She further noted that the ODPP in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force, Judiciary and Uganda Prisons Service has formulated user policies to enhance the management of HIV, AIDS, TB, and Malaria and to provide clear guidelines and procedures for addressing health-related issues within the Criminal Justice institutions.

She underscored that there are currently 16 pioneer consent-screening stations for health services within the Kampala Metropolitan area. She emphasized that, “By implementing this screening process, we ensure that individuals within these stations receive vital health screenings, enabling early detection and timely treatment of diseases, thus protecting all in the Criminal Justice System from the entry point – Uganda Police Force.”

On the other hand, Ms. Ayebare Proscovia, the Project Coordinator stated that there is a dire need to continue protecting and promoting rights and health of suspects and victims within the Criminal Justice System.

The panelists were Hon. Justice Mutonyi Margaret – Judge of the High Court, Mr. Elem Ogwal Charles – Former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and Mr. Mukiibi Paul – Head, Department of Law Reporting, Research and Law Reform at the Law Development Centre. They stressed the need to undertake screening of suspects right at police stations and in prisons. For cases of aggravated defilement, it was noted that it is critical to ascertain if the suspects were aware that they were HIV+ at the time of commission of the crime. They also emphasized the need for disclosure of the medical status of the accused persons as a means to mitigate the spread of the diseases.

The meeting was closed by Justice Vincent Wagona – Judge of the High Court who stated that, “The DPP prosecutes cases in public interest and in the interest of the administration of criminal justice, and this includes the interests of accused persons and victims to ensure that HIV, AIDS, TB and Malaria are addressed.” He further stated that all the other stakeholders in the criminal justice system are critical in achieving this end.

The meeting was held under the auspices of the Global Fund.

Jacquelyn Okui

Public Relations Officer

For any inquiries, please contact: Tel: +256 786927311

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Tel: +256701085346

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

#PRESS RELEASE

Today, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Justice Jane Frances Abodo has been presented the ABETO Africa Peace Award. This was in recognition of her remarkable achievements as DPP in the three years that she has been at the helm of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

In his remarks, Mr. Musana Moses, the Chairperson of ABETO (Always Be Tolerant Organization); an organization whose aim is to inculcate the values of peaceful co-existence, resolution of conflict through peaceful means and get the people of Uganda, Africa and the world to embrace a culture of peace, democracy and good governance, stated that through the DPP’s good leadership, the ODPP has done so much amidst so many security challenges.

The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi; the Chief Guest at the occasion, revealed that the awardees of the ABETO Africa Peace Award had been meticulously assessed and their work ascertained to be fair, consistent and to have greatly contributed to the co-existence of all persons in the country.

In her remarks, the DPP expressed her gratitude to ABETO for presenting the award to her and reckoned that it shows that the work of the ODPP is being recognized and appreciated by its esteemed stakeholders. She stated that upon her assumption to office as DPP, she focused on a number of critical areas including High Level Crime, Reducing Case Backlog, Improving Staffing and Staff Welfare, Development of Guidelines for the Prosecutors, and Establishing a Prosecutors Academy. The DPP then highlighted that the conviction rate of the ODPP had risen to over 71% in the past three years. She noted that the ODPP has promoted expeditious handling of cases through the plea bargain initiative leading to remarkable reduction in case backlog thus contributing greatly to the high conviction rate.

The ABETO Africa Peace Award is given in recognition of Heads of State and government dignitaries who have championed the cause of transforming the state and quality of living in their countries.

Further, she noted that the office successfully pursued salary enhancement for the Prosecutors in the year 2022 and a tax waiver which commences this financial year. In addition, she stated that, “Early this year, the ODPP Virtual Academy; an online platform for delivering training and legal resources to Prosecutors remotely, the first of the kind in East Africa, was birthed.”

She categorically expressed her appreciation to H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the government, development partners and other stakeholders for supporting the ODPP in realizing its mandate. By extension, she also applauded the ODPP Top Management and staff for their tireless efforts in realizing the institution’s vision of a crime free society.

The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana, UN Independent Expert underscored that the award was geared towards recognizing the roles of the awardees and identifying the people who make a difference in other people’s lives. He acknowledged the DPP’s efforts in reducing criminal case backlog. Within the region, ABETO Peace Awards have been graciously received by H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Uganda), President Nelson Mandela (Former President of South Africa), President Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Amb. Ramtane Lamamra (African Union Peace and Security Commissioner), Eng. Mahboub M. Maalim (Executive Secretary of IGAD), as well as a number of other dignitaries.

Jacquelyn Okui

Public Relations Officer

For any inquiries, please contact: Tel: +256 786927311

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Tel: +256701085346

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Governance and Security Programme contributes to the NDPIII objective five which is; to strengthen the role of state in Development. The programme goal is to improve adherence to the rule of law and capacity to contain prevailing and emerging security threats.

Programme Administrative Coordinator: Office of the Prime Minister 

Program Technical Coordinator/Manager: Office of the President (OP)

Lead Implementing Partners:

1. Justice Law and Order Sector (Access to Justice Sub-Programme)
2. Security Sector
3. Legislature Sector
4. Accountability sector

The key results to be achieved over the next five years are:

• Improve on the Corruption Perception Index from 26 percent to 35 percent.
• Increase the Democratic Index from 6.5 percent to 8.6 percent.
• Increase the expenditure on R&D by Security Sector from UGX 7 billion to 10 billion.
• Increase percentage expenditure on R&D from 0.01 to 0.1.
• Increase the percentage of citizens’ participation in electoral processes from 80 percent to 90 percent.
• Increase the rate of case disposal from 60 percent to 75 percent.
• Attain a 25 percent enrolment in the National service by 2025.
• Decrease the percentage of backlog cases in the system from 18 percent to 10 percent; and
• Increase the percentage of districts with one stop frontline JLOS service points from 67.5 percent to 90 percent.

 The objectives of the programme are to:

• Strengthen the capacity of security agencies to address emerging security threats.
• Strengthen policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for effective governance and security.
• Strengthen people centred security, legislation, justice, law, and order service delivery system.
• Reform and strengthen JLOS business processes to facilitate private sector development.
• Strengthen transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption systems.
• Strengthen citizen participation in democratic processes.
• Strengthen compliance and implementation of the Uganda Bill of Rights; and
• Enhance Refugee protection and Migration Management.

DOWNLOAD:

Governance and Security Programme Annual Report (FY 2021/22)

Background

JLOS was launched in 1999 initially with 10 (ten) public institutions focused on improving access to justice for all persons. This was done through coordinated and evidence based sector wide formulation, planning and resource application.  In its implementation, JLOS started off with a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP FY 2001/02 – 2005/6). This was followed by the Second Strategic Investment Plan (SIP II FY 2006/07 –2011/12) and the third Strategic Investment Plan (SIP III FY 2012/13 –2016/17). SIP III was largely focused on promotion of the rule of law by increasing public confidence and trust in the justice system as well as user satisfaction with the services offered by the Sector.

Sector mandate and composition 

The Justice Law and Order Sector is a sector wide approach adopted by Government of Uganda bringing together 18 institutions with closely linked mandates of administering justice and maintaining law and order as well as the promotion and protection of human rights. The Sector focuses on a holistic approach to improving access to and administration of justice through a sector wide approach to planning, budgeting, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation. 

SIP I – Rebuilding and re-tooling the Sector Institutions

The first Strategic Plan (SIP I) focused on two areas – criminal justice, building on the Chain-linked Initiative and commercial justice under the Commercial Justice Reform Programme (CJRP). The CJRP sought to reform the laws, institutional and human resource capacities and to strengthen the environment for doing business. SIP I, as the initial Sector plan was strongly premised on the need to rebuild and retool institution and build the capacity of staff. It was geared at reviving the justice sector that had been run down following the instability leading up to 1986.

SIP II – Stabilisation Phase

SIP II that ran from 2006/07 to 2011/12 was geared at stabilising institutional growth and consolidating the gains made under the first planning framework and enhancing impact. It bore a heightened focus on poor and marginalised groups and was anchored in the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), which was the overarching framework for Uganda’s growth and development and the Medium-Term Competitiveness Strategy (MTCS). The Sector, at this point, recognised the need to address those challenges that impacted on the cost of doing business and concerns of the poor and marginalised. These challenges include corruption, delay in disposal of land and family cases, and addressing cross-cutting challenges such as protecting the environment, promoting gender equity and supporting efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS. SIPII therefore built on the lessons of SIP I and prioritised the promotion of rule of law and due process, fostering of a culture of human rights, enhancing access to justice, especially for the poor and marginalised, reducing crime and improving safety and security and contributing to economic development.

The expanded focus on criminal, commercial, land and family justice, built on the SIP I but went on to incorporate the findings of the Integrated Study on Land and Family Justice. It further increased the number of JLOS institutions to 11 with the addition of the Uganda Human Rights Commission and four (4) institutions were added as allied institutions.

a) The key gains under the first two strategic plans laid the foundation for the next planning framework. These included:

b) Reduction in length of stay on remand from an average of 24 months to 15 months for serious offences;

c) Increased efficiency in the Commercial Court as evidenced in case throughput and application of ADR;

d) Establishment of CADER and the Tax Appeals Tribunal;

e) Reform of 40 commercial laws and integration of regulatory best practices in policy formulation and practice;

f) Enhanced capacity of the legal profession in commercial disputes, including establishment of a functional legal resource centre at the Uganda Law Society.

SIP III – Consolidating the gains

The SIP III moved the Sector from brick and mortar investments to deepen and broaden access to JLOS services through targeted interventions. The overall focus of the Sector was expanded to include the following: Land justice; Family justice; Transitional justice;Prevention of age and gender based violence; Worker’s rights.

In addition, the growing concerns of accountability and human rights observance were given special attention.

Under SIP III, the Sector membership also expanded to 17 institutions, with the inclusion of Law Development Centre, Uganda Law Society, Tax Appeals Tribunal and CADER as full Sector members and the addition of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau as a newly created institution.

(DOWNLOAD SIP III MAGAZINE)

 Under SIPIII public confidence in JLOS institutions increased significantly from the baseline average of 26% in 2012 to 48% in 2016. Public engagement with JLOS institutions and use of JLOS services grew three fold on the average compared to the baselines. 

For those persons that have accessed JLOS services the level of satisfaction has increased from the average baseline position of 59%  in 2012 to 72% in 2016. The index of judicial independence grew by 22% from 2.8 in 2014/15 to 3.41 in 2016, implying that judicial processes in Uganda have become more independent. The country’s judicial independence ranking too has improved from position 128 in 2012 to 91 in 2016 according the Global Competitiveness Report, 2016.

As a result of the interventions in legal reform and other innovations, Uganda moved from position 139 in 2012 to 122 in 2015/16 in the doing business index. 

The Sector is now functionally present in 82% of the districts compared to 75% functional presence in 2014/15. Also the number of districts with a complete chain of infrastructure for frontline JLOS services increased from 35% in 2012 to 59.8% in 2015/16. 

The average length of stay on remand reduced from 23 months in 2012 to 10.4 months for capital offenders and case backlog reduced from 39% in 2012 to 25% in 2016.  Use of ADR recorded a resounding success with a 55% success rate compared to 22% in 2012 arising out of investments in training and advocacy. 

The crime rate reduced from 314 per 100,000 in 2012 to 296 per 100,000 in 2016. 

In terms of human rights observance, the number of reported human rights violations by JLOS agencies reduced by 41% during the reporting period. This is partly due to the adoption of a human rights culture and accountability and sensitisation of police and prisons that have always featured high in terms of human rights violations.

SDP IV

JLOS is currently implementing the 5^th Strategic Development Plan (2017 - 2020). DOWNLOAD SDP IV

The Ag. Director of Public Prosecutions Mr. Alfred Elem-Ogwal has today issued a circular to all ODPP staff, JLOS institutions, the general public  and other stakeholders detailing operating procedures for the ODPP following the Presidential directives extending the COVID-19 lockdown for 21 days to 5^th May 2020.

DOWNLOAD ODPP OPERATING PROCEDURES (Issued: 16^th April 2020)

This circular follows the administrative guidelines issued on 20^th March 2020 by Mr. Ogwal to all ODPP staff in the country. 

DOWNLOAD ODPP ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES (issued: 20^th March 2020)

For any inquiries, the ODPP has provided the following contact information:

Mr. Vincent Wagona

Deputy DPP/Management and Support Services

Tel. 0794-332085

Ms. Jacquelyn Okui

Public Relations Officer

Tel. 0794-332233

Ms. Barbara Masinde

PA to the Ag. DPP

Tel. 0794-332472

Published: April 17, 2020 

CIRCULAR: Additional operating procedures for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic (Release date: June 21, 2021)

DOWNLOAD (PDF)

Published: June 21, 2021

H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed into law the traffic and road safety amendment bill 2023 increasing the fine for driving beyond the prescribed speed limit from 200,000 Ushs to 2,000,000 Ushs.

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