Legal Aid Service Provider's Network

The Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) is a reform process ongoing across the entire justice sector through a sector wide approach (SWAp) since 2000 to address the systemic weaknesses in the justice system that were compounded by lack of a clear policy framework for all the justice agencies to deliver quality justice efficiently and effectively. The sector maintained a long term perspective to the process of reform by adopting a Second Strategic Investment Plan (SIP II) in August 2006 for the period 2006/2007 to2010/2011. The Plan, which incorporates prioritised and costed interventions, will enable the Sector to continue the reforms that were implemented under the first Strategic Investment Plan. In developing the SIP II, the sector adopted a Government-led and participatory process. Consultations were held with all key stakeholders within and outside the Sector through a series of interviews, meetings, focus group discussions and workshops at regional and national level. The external stakeholders consulted included other sectors of Government, statutory bodies, civil society organizations, the private sector and development partners. The SIP, II was built on the processes and lessons that the sector learnt during the implementation of its first Plan. In this sense, the SIP II consolidates and builds upon the first Plan by strengthening its strategies and addressing weaknesses identified during the Mid Term Evaluation. The sector also took into account the national framework within which the JLOS must feed into and contribute. The reason to continue the reforms were still based on the need to meet the set minimum standards in international human rights treaties that Uganda has ratified and the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda for an efficient and effective justice system. It was also premised on the recognition that a justice system ensures safety of the person and security of property, which are vital and necessary to provide an enabling environment for productive activity, investment and competitiveness; and hence poverty reduction and economic development. The JLOS comprises ten institutions that discharge their mandates in an independent way. These mandates cover law and order aspects, as well as justice specific issues. The planning process for SIP, II considered the multi–dimensional and multi–institutional nature of justice for which consensus had to be built on common values and a common policy framework. To achieve this, a Task Force including the JLOS Secretariat and representatives of the JLOS Technical Committee, with the assistance of a consultant facilitated discussions and negotiations that resulted into ownership of the process and commitment to implement the reforms. As a reform programme, the sector consultations and discussion aimed at identifying areas and strategies for reform over routine delivery of service. The challenge of a widened focus for the reform with limited human and financial resource required the sector to seek solutions in innovative and cost effective approaches to addresses the weaknesses in the system, and which would demonstrate results for the benefit of the people. The Plan provides the JLOS a unified policy and planning framework and strategy for reform to ensure that all the institutions operate in a coordinated manner, using common approaches towards a shared goal under the leadership of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

The Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) in Uganda is rated as a huge success and regional flag bearer in policy and strategic coordination in justice and law enforcement reforms. Embedded within the national planning framework and a rights based approach, the sector-wide approach(Swap) has grown from an initial local based pilot into a collaboration that draws together over 15 institutions across family, land, commercial and criminal justice spheres. Steeped in this success, the Sector intends to sustain this growth and its dividends. Within this investment plan, the Sector will multiply its efforts to transform the justice and law enforcement system into one that respects,promotes, protects and fulfills the fundamental rights stipulated in the Uganda Constitution of 1995. JLOS successes in the past decade are located in law reform, institutional efficiency leading to increased responsiveness to user needs; continued progress in sector development and in the implementation of innovations to expand JLOS services to reach out to specific groups with limited access to justice. The initial sector investment (SIP I) 2000-2004 dipped into uncharted waters and SIP II consolidated the gains of this initial investment. This Strategy is a living document that will continue to speak to the diverse sector institutions, development partners and non State Actors through Annual Reviews of Performance and Planning sessions. In addition and prior to the commencement of SIP III implementation, the Sector will ensure that the rubric of institutional actions, reforms and interventions cumulatively attain the goals of SIP III. The development of the Strategy has benefitted from an array of views gained from a broad range of consultations including within Government- at national and regional levels; non-governmental organizations, private sector, development partners and special groups including children, prisoners etc. The process of consultations will continue through the Annual reviews of Implementation and planning to foster both vertical and downward accountability for sector results. The initial section reviews the context within which the Sector operates; the achievements, prospects and lessons derived from previous performance. The second section outlines the Strategy and its elements. The third section reviews the management arrangements; presents risks and mitigation measures and the monitoring and evaluation framework. The last section presents the SIP III financing arrangements.