Ministers should expeditiously debate and approve a draft policy aimed at providing free legal services to the poor and marginalised, a civil society organization has implored.
Justice Centres Uganda, a legal aid provider, has said that the draft was forwarded to cabinet in 2012 but is yet to receive a nod from government.
And, speaking at a media workshop organised by her organization, the JCU National Coordinator Ms. Christine Birabwa Nsubuga, said once approved, the National Legal Aid policy would enable many poor people access legal assistance.
“We need cabinet to approve the policy so that the ordinary person benefits,” Mrs. Birabwa said, adding that the country needs a fully-fledged legal aid institution.
She said government funds the activities of legal aid and that it also has the duty to uphold the right to equality before the law as enshrined in Article 28 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.
“Government has signed many international conventions thus committing itself to provide legal services to its citizens,” she said, adding that 84 per cent of the Ugandan population lacks adequate legal services and have to rely on other forms of legal assistance like that provided by local council courts.
She also noted that women, the group that contributes 70% of Uganda’s agricultural produce and forms the backbone of the economy, need reinforced protection under the law.
“In some parts of the country, women don’t inherit land and access to legal services is hard; the policy will enable such people to get justice,” Ms Birabwa said adding: “Vision 2040 will be hard to attain if women are not provided enough legal assistance.”
If approved, the National Legal Aid Policy will enable extension of legal services to the 63% poor Ugandans that cannot access legal services. The policy will also promote the rights of vulnerable communities through provision of quality human rights, awareness, communities outreach, empowerment and advocacy.
Founded in 2009, Justice Center Uganda (JCU) is one of the 17 legal aid providers under the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS).
Currently, JCU is partially funded by the Government of Uganda through the Justice Law and Order (JLOS) sector and the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) through partners that include Austria, Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
