Free legal service providers want legal aid bill passed into law
Dec 12, 2017
They argue that delays on tabling the bill before Parliament by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs have caused several human rights abuses against the vulnerable groups to go unpunished
A group of 54 free legal aid service providers have called on parliament to speed up the discussions on the National Legal Aid Policy (NLAP) bill and have it passed into law.
They argue that delays on tabling the bill before Parliament by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs have caused several human rights abuses against the vulnerable groups to go unpunished.
Christine Birabwa Nsubuga, the former National coordinator Justice Centres Uganda said that though the constitution and other international charters provide for equality for all before the law without discrimination, this right is limited by poverty and lack of knowledge.
"Most legal cases are between those who cannot afford Justice and those who can. We need a mixed model which gives a chance for everyone to access justice despite their economic situation," she said.
She made the remarks at a breakfast meeting organized by the service providers' umbrella organization, the Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET), at Piato restaurant.
LASPNET was established in 2004 to provide strategic linkages and collaborative platform for legal aid service providers in Uganda. It has been at the fore front of Advocating for NLAP. The bill has so far spent five years without being presented to Parliament.
Sylvia Namubiru, the Executive Director LASPNET said that the bill provides for easy access to free legal aid by the marginalized and vulnerable groups of people in the country and also regulate the legal aid service providers in the country.
She noted that once passed into law, it will give the legal aid service providers an opportunity to complement government's effort to make justice accessible to everyone in the country, by reaching out to the most vulnerable people living in inaccessible parts of the country, at a free cost.
Lyandro Komakech, the chairperson of the Greater North Parliamentary Forum (GNPF), promised to bring on board fellow legislators to see that the bill gets enacted into law by 2018.