Lawyer Matthew Price
(left) is a BMS mid-term worker in Kampala. He says, “At UCLF it really is ‘thumbs up’ for the paralegals. In many ways they are at the coal face of the justice system here in Uganda.
“Day by day they are constantly coming up against cases of injustice in the police stations and courts of Kampala; identifying those who have overstayed on remand and those against whom there is no realistic case to answer.
“On average they reach 2,800 suspects every month, [teaching] them about their rights whilst in detention, linking them with potential sureties and identifying those suspects who are willing to plead guilty, so their cases can be fast-tracked.”
Legal education is an important part of UCLF’s programme. With a target of reaching 2,050 beneficiaries in one year, in the first half of the year of the year, over 3,900 people benefited from training about legal rights.
BMS lawyer Jenny Riddell
(right), working in the west of the country, says, “In Kasese town and the rural location of Kiburara, pastors and local leaders were trained in issues of land law and domestic relations including domestic violence and succession.
“These were issues identified as being of great need and were well received. Many of the community leaders themselves are now busy writing their wills, setting a great example for the people they lead; a wonderful indicator of success.
“Furthermore, a few weeks ago, one particular participant conducted a radio interview correctly explaining land law to the people of Kasese in their local language”.
Titus Kamya, the Secretary of the UCLF Board, describes the situation in Uganda as “arguably [being] in the advent of legal aid service provision”.
But he says, “Unlike other legal aid providers, UCLF is Christ-centred.
“The members’ drive and motivation is to share the love of God to a community faced with injustice.
“To UCLF, legal aid service provision is seen as ministry…. The manner and attitude with which prisoners are represented has caught the attention both of prosecutors and court staff who have marvelled at the sincerity, commitment and passion with which UCLF lawyers represent prisoners.
“Indeed this can only be a demonstration of Christ-centred legal aid service to the community.”