This program aims to strengthen Uganda’s criminal justice system by improving access to legal aid, enhancing court processes, and promoting alternatives to imprisonment in line with United Nations standards.
1. Legal Assistance for Suspects & Inmates
With support from UNODC, the project provided:
(i) Court representation (293 beneficiaries: 248M, 45F)
(ii) Legal advice & counseling at police stations/prisons (741 beneficiaries: 652M, 89F)
(iii) Resolved cases (338 beneficiaries: 285M, 53F)
- 162 cases concluded in court
- 176 cases resolved at police stations
(iv) Total assisted: 1,034 suspects/inmates (900M, 134F)
2. Community & Prison Sensitizations
The program conducted:
(i) 20 community sessions educating 343 people (157M, 186F) about criminal justice processes
(ii) Prison workshops for 761 inmates (712M, 49F) on:
- Trial procedures
- Rights of accused persons
- Victims’ rights
(iii) Self-representation training for 215 inmates (188M, 27F)
3. Capacity Building Initiatives
(i) Trained 25 legal advocates (17M, 8F) on:
- Bail guidelines
- Human Rights Enforcement Act
- Emerging trends in criminal justice
(ii) Recruited & trained 50 community paralegals to provide:
- Public legal education
- Basic legal advice on suspects’ rights
4. Stakeholder Coordination
(i) Held 5 District Coordination Committee (DCC) meetings
(ii) Attended by 94 justice sector actors (52M, 42F)
(iii) Key discussion topics:
- Criminal justice reforms
- Inter-agency collaboration
- System efficiency improvements
Supported by: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)