INAUGURAL INNOVATIONS CONFERENCE REINFORCES CALLS FOR STATE FUNDED LEGAL AID SCHEME
- 15 September 2017 -
- Written by Laspnet
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1. The Hon.Chief Justice speaking at the Conference
2.R-L Hon. Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, H.E Henk Jan Bakker, Dutch Ambassador to Uganda and Mr. Samuel Herbert Nsubuga, LASPNET Board Chairperson during the Conference
3. Innovators together with Justice System stakeholders during the Networking session on 7th/09/17.
“Access to justice is still a dream for many Ugandans especially those living in rural areas. This is because, as estimated by the JLOS annual report 2014/2015, only 18% of the Ugandan population receives legal aid services annually leaving many poor, vulnerable and marginalized Ugandans without access to legal remedy. This is compounded by an unfriendly formal justice system along with lack of basic knowledge of rights paving the way for a number of injustices to include exploitation of the poor through corruption and other unfair tendencies”.
The above sentiments were shared by the Hon. Chief Justice Bart Katureebe as he officially opened the inaugural legal aid innovations conference held on 8th September 2017 at Hotel Africana. He appealed to lawyers to go down to the grassroots and provide legal information and advice to the many poor Ugandans who yearn for it but are unable to access it.
Additionally, the Hon. Chief Justice applauded the organisers of the conference for creating a platform to showcase best practices and cost effective innovations to improve access to justice. He acknowledged the efforts of state, non-state actors and development partners in ensuring access to justice but maintained that it was imperative that government facilitates the development of a legal aid policy and law and adopt a state funded legal aid scheme.
H.E Henk Jan Bakker, the Dutch Ambassador to Uganda encouraged competitiveness because it calls for a paradigm shift and provides a lasting solution for access to justice. He noted the different innovations that have been done in Netherlands such as the Dutch Legal Tech Start up Awards where new techniques in the legal sector are recognised and promoted. He further reiterated the commitment and support from Netherlands and the Democratic Governance Facility towards the much needed legal aid in Uganda.
Hon. Justice Remmy Kasule who heads the Uganda Law Council also made a passionate appeal to the Chief Justice to have the National Legal Aid Policy passed, and called for devising sustainability interventions by institutions like Justice Centers Uganda along with increased collaboration between state and non- state actors to realise meaningful access to justice.
The Conference also featured a key note address from Hon. Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, who chairs the Innovations Committee of the Justice, Law and Order Sector. He noted that the emerging twists in the current legal environment call for constant innovations in order to stay relevant. “Without innovation, we cannot go far in access to justice”, he added.
On her part, Ms. Rachel Odoi-Musoke, the JLOS Senior Technical Adviser expressed happiness for the conference because it provided a glimpse into what was happening in the legal aid sphere and the diversity in service by legal aid service providers. She appreciated the growing level of partnership between government and civil society and committed support from the JLOS Secretariat. “Such innovations if taken forward will help emphasize reforms and benchmark best practices for better service delivery which is why we need an innovations hub”, she concluded.
The Conference was organised by LASPNET in collaboration with Barefoot Law, supported by HiiL, JLOS and funded by the Democratic Facility. The two day event began with a networking session on 7th September 2017 between the five top innovators and key actors in the justice system.
The five top innovators were: Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC), Law Development Center Legal Aid Clinic (LDC-LAC), National Union of Disabled Persons in Uganda (NUDIPU), Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-U) and the African Prisons Project (APP). These emerged best out of 25 institutions and individuals that submitted entries.
PILAC showcased a model on university legal clinics that promote social justice through legal education, research and legal aid to improve access to justice; LDC-LAC showcased about coaching clients on self-representation and social re-integration of juveniles by fit persons. NUDIPU presented on a sign language interpreter’s hub; FIDA-U on the self-actualisation model for empowerment (SAME) that reduces vulnerability and powerlessness among the poor through economic empowerment; while APP focused on legal training for prisoners and staff who in turn offer direct, low cost and effective legal assistance.
The conference was attended by 55 participants on day one and over 255 participants on the second day. These were composed of Legal Aid Service Providers, Justice, Law and Order Sector partners, Development Partners, Judiciary, Private Practitioners, representatives from government institutions, Students and the media.
