EU delegation meets JLOS top brass over accountability

JUSTICE    LAW

KAMPALA - Development partners and the top leadership of the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) in Uganda have held a high-level policy dialogue to discuss the developments and challenges in delivering justice and rule of law in the country.

The head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Uganda, Ambassador Attilio Pacifici, chair of the Development Partners Group (DPG) of JLOS hosted the policy dialogue at his residence in Kololo under the auspices of the JLOS Leadership Dinner.

JLOS top leadership present included Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, Justice Minister Maj. Gen (rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, Attorney General William Byaruhanga and previous DPG chair Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda, Henk Jan Bakker.

Although it was a closed-door meeting, New Vision has learnt that the JLOS development partners and top leadership exchanged views on topical issues on the rule of law and delivery of justice in Uganda.

They affirmed their commitment to addressing challenges in the sector and institutions.

Left to right: Otafire, Pacifici, Katureebe, Henk Bakker the Dutch Ambassador to Uganda and Byaruhanga during the meeting

 
Sources said the elements of their discussions focused on budget allocation to the sector, case backlog, access to JLOS services, the role of local council courts and the status of pending reforms.

They also focused on key policies and law including electoral reforms, administration of justice bill, transitional justice, and legal aid policy.

About the dialogue

 The high-level dialogue is held biannually and alternately hosted by the Chief Justice in his capacity as the Chairperson of the JLOS Leadership Committee or by the Chair of the JLOS DPG.

 The JLOS Leadership Committee is constituted by the Chief Justice, the Principal Judge, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Attorney General, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Finance Planning and Economic Development and the Minister of Gender.

The US ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac(left) chats with Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Kahinda Otafire(right)

 
Others are the Minister of Local Government, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, the Deputy Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecution, the Chairperson-Uganda Law Reform Commission, the Chairperson Uganda Human Rights Commission and the Chairperson-Judicial Service Commission among others.

The JLOS DPG is constituted by Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, the European Union Delegation to Uganda, UN Resident Coordinator, UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, UNHCR, the Democratic Governance Facility and the International Development Law Organisation among others.

At Thursday's dinner, other development partners outside of the JLOS DPG attended including the embassies of Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, the United States, the British High Commission, and the World Bank also attended as observers.