Legal Representation and Advisory Support for the Refugees and Host Communities in West Nile and Mid-Western Uganda supported by IRC
In 2023, a total of 3,227 (1880M, 1347F) Persons we Serve in Bidibidi Settlement in Yumbe, Imvepi Settlement in Arua and Kyaka II Settlement in Kyegegwa were reached with legal aid services with support from IRC under the UNHCR, BPRM and ECHO-APEAL projects. Out of these, 599 (501M, 98F) were represented in courts of law and by ADR/mediation of their cases. 502 (457M, 45F) people received legal advice and counsel during visits to detention facilities and 235 (98M, 137F) received legal advice during 42 mobile clinics that were conducted in the Settlements and the host communities, while 108 (76M, 32F) persons we serve were supported with legal documentation such as statutory declarations, deed polls and production warrants.
Also, to note, 1,783 (748M, 1035F) Persons we serve benefitted from the legal awareness sessions which were conducted during which information was shared on legal and human rights, the criminal justice system, and how to access redress in case of violation of rights. Capacity building training was also conducted for 66 (42M, 24F) community-based paralegals, 115 (80M, 35F) non-state actors who included the local leadership in the area for example the local council committees and the refugee welfare committees, and 51 (34M, 17F) state actors who included the police, prisons and local government officials. These trainings were aimed at enhancing their capacity in providing support services to the refugees and host community members.
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IRC mission in Uganda
The IRC’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future.
The IRC first began operating in Uganda in 1998, supporting the 1.8 million Ugandans displaced by the LRA insurgency. Since then, the IRC has scaled its programming across Uganda to meet the needs of a growing number of refugees seeking safety in the country. We now operate six offices across Uganda.
The IRC is supporting refugees and their host communities by:
- providing women and girls with safety, general and reproductive health, education and financial independence resources and services;
- working with families and communities to prevent violence and harmful practices, particularly against women and girls;
- helping farmers and small-business owners succeed, linking them to markets and credit for their businesses;
- teaching youth business skills, matching clients to apprenticeship opportunities and providing them with seed grants for business initiatives;
- providing vital primary health care services, medical equipment supplies and strengthening the Ugandan health care system;
- training community members to prevent, diagnose and treat common illnesses as well as to mitigate health risks, including malnutrition;
- promoting Early Childhood Development for children under five through proven learning and nurturing initiatives that aim to improve holistic learning and well-being outcomes for children and intergenerational approaches that target both children and their caretakers;
- supporting the immunization of children through the deployment of new technologies and community engagement strategies.
Legal Representation of Persons we Serve supported by Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Alight (U) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC) have a MOU to represent refugees in south western Uganda, Fortportal, Kamwenge and yumbe. With financial support from the DRC, LAP-ULS continued to provide legal representation to the Persons we Serve in Rhino and Imvepi Settlements in Arua. The project is being implemented through the legal aid clinic in Arua and the activities thereunder are: Legal representation which includes appearances in courts of law, police and prisons, legal advice and counseling, referral to other partners, and conducting capacity building training for stakeholders. An overall total of 2,453 (1594M, 859F) People were provided with legal assistance among which 435 were represented in courts and police, 236 were supported with legal documentation, 520 were given legal advice and counseling at detention facilities and 1,262 persons of concern were assisted during legal and human rights awareness sessions.
A total of 146 cases were concluded.
