Govt urged to expedite National Legal Aid Bill to ensure free services
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs Rebecca Kadaga (with a mask), dignitaries and members of Fida-Uganda in Ntinda, Kampala on September 15, 2023. PHOTO/KARIM MUYOBO
What you need to know:
- The bill's core objective is to regulate the provision of legal aid services by service providers in Uganda and ensure access to justice for indigent, marginalized, and vulnerable citizens.
Women lawyers and rights activists in Uganda have urged the government to expedite the passage of the National Legal Aid Bill into law.
According to FIDA Uganda, a women's lawyers association, operating a legal aid clinic in a single district for one year costs $60,000, approximately Shs221 million.
"With this funding, we can resolve up to 850 cases in one district. Currently, we operate 16 legal aid clinics in 16 districts, in addition to four family justice desks located at four magistrates' courts," said Ms Angela Asiimwe, a member of FIDA Uganda.
She said the organisation has provided legal aid services to 25,327 clients across 19 legal aid clinics and three family justice desks. Of these clients, 70.4 per cent were women, while 29.6 percent were men.
“We have also recovered Shs422.1m in maintenance and compensation for clients and Shs78m in land-related cases,” she added.
At least 80 per cent of Ugandans cannot afford the services of a private lawyer, despite the Constitution providing for the right to a fair hearing in courts of law.
"…this is because an accused person cannot have a fair hearing in court without legal representation," Ms Asiimwe explained.
The National Legal Aid Bill, which was first tabled in Parliament in 2020, aims to address the lack of access to free legal services for vulnerable citizens. The bill's core objective is to regulate the provision of legal aid services by service providers in Uganda and ensure access to justice for indigent, marginalized, and vulnerable citizens.
Ms Miria Matembe, a veteran women's rights activist and FIDA member, emphasised that the association is not fighting against men but rather striving to empower women and promote gender equality.
"When women face challenges and suffer helplessly, this organisation steps in to help. FIDA is not solely about empowering women; it promotes gender equality, enabling women to contribute effectively to society, which ultimately benefits everyone," Ms Matembe said.
As FIDA Uganda marks 50 years of existence, Ms Matembe called on men to join the fight for gender equality, describing it as essential for the development of Uganda.
"When women succeed, men also benefit," she added.
