PWDs seek reforms in judicial system

By John Semakula

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have decried the gaps in Uganda’s legal system which they say are hindering them from accessing justice.

In a survey report released on Tuesday by the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU), the PWDs noted that they are facing serious challenges in trying to access justice due to the gaps in the law.

The survey was conducted by NUDIPU in six districts, including Kampala, Gomba, Lira and Iganga. The main objective of the survey was to establish the situation of PWDs in regard to accessing justice.

The PWDs observed that many of the courts in Uganda are inaccessible because they are far from their localities.

They also complained of the stairs at the courts which they said stop them from accessing the court rooms and attending hearings.

Some of the respondents from Namutumba District said they are required to file their complaints to the Magistrates court in Jinja District, which they said is miles away.

They also expressed dismay over staffing in the judiciary, saying it does not provide offices with people who can speak the sign language.
 
The PWDs asked Government to come up with small courts of law at the parish levels to encourage them to report cases against people who infringe on their rights.

They further asked Government to avail them with lawyers in the rural areas who can give them free legal aid.

The report noted that many PWDs have been silently evicted from their land while others are sexually abused and they have nowhere to run for justice.

Following the release of the report, NUDIPU, Executive Director Edson Ngirabakunzi, said that they had embarked on sensitizing the PWDs on their rights to justice.

Ngirabakunzi said that the sensitization is a two-year project and that NUDIPU has hired lawyers to implement it in the six districts where the survey was conducted.