The Legal Analysis Of The Pro Bono Services In Uganda, The Effectiveness Of The Institutions In Uganda.

ABSTRACT

Legal Aid is a right which is recognized and provided for both at international and national level in order to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. Access to Justice is an important right which should be enjoyed by all people in the world in-espective of their social, economic and political differences in order to promote the role of law.

The legal aid providers Network (LASPNET) was established to link up all legal aid service provider by providing a forum of networking ideas and promoting the legal Aid sub-committee

of the law council. The only legal aid provided by the state is through the state brief system for only capital aid policy to hold government accountable for providing legal services to indigent

persons whose rights have been violated.

Despite the fact that both government and N GOs have done a lot to ensure that all people access Justice in Uganda. There are still gaps in existing effort by government to enhance access to justice through the provision of legal aid service to the poor.

Key legal provisions are largely provided by the Civil Society Organization instead of government and its not clear how many other legal aid providers exists in the country, where and how they operate.

In the number of social sector the system has worked properly well such as education. but in reaching rural poor is the problem due to poor infrastructures like road, commtmication system, no security among others. It was against this background that the study was conceived.

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION ................................................................................................ i

APPROVAL .................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ..................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMNT ................................................................................................. iv

LIST OF LEGISLATION ........................................................................................... : ................... v

LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................... vi

TABLE OF CONTENT ............................................................................................ vii

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................... x

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................... 1

1 :0 Introduction ................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Definition of legal terms used .................................................................................................. 2

1.2 Background of the study .............................................................................................. 4

1.3 Statement of the problem ............................................................................................. 5

1 .4 Objectives of the Study ......................................................................................... , ................... 6

1.5 The major goal of the study ...................................................................................................... 7

1.6 Hypothesis ..................................................................................................... 7

1. 7 Methodology ................................................................................................ 7

1.8 Synopsis ..................................................................................................... 7

I. 9 Literature review ...................................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................... 11

2.0 The policy and legal framework for legal aid service provision ............................................. 11

2.1 The policy frame work ............................................................................................ 11

2.2 Legislative framework ............................................................................................... 11

2.3 The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 ................................................................. 11

2.4 Advocates Act Cap 267 ........................................................................................... 13

2.5 The advocates (legal Aid to indigent persons) Regulations S.1 No. 12 of2007 .................... 14

vii

2.6 The Poor Persons Defence Act cap 20 .................................................................................... 14

2.7 The Law Development Centre Act Cap 132 ........................................................................... 15

2.8 The Advocates (student practice) regulations S.170 of 2007 ............................... : ................. 15

2.9 The Advocates (pro-bono services to indigent persons) regulations Sl no. 39 of 2009 ........ 16

2.10 The Trial on Indictment Act Cap 23 ..................................................................................... 16

2.11 International and regional frarnework ................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................... 18

PROBONO SERVICE PROVIDERS IN UGANDA ............................................................... 18

3.0 Introduction .............................................................................................. 18

3 .1 Pro bono service providers in Uganda .................................................................................... 18

3.1.1 The main objective of most pro bono service provider include the following .................... 18

3.2.2 Public Defender Association of Uganda .............................................................................. 19

3.2.3 FIDA Uganda legal and clinic ............................................................................................. 19

3.2.4 Uganda Christian lawyer's fraternity (UCLF) ..................................................................... 20

3.2.5 Refugee law project Makerere University Faculty of Law .................................................. 20

3.2.6 Legal Aid Clinic of the Law Development Centre .............................................................. 20

3.2.7 International Justice Mission ............................................................................................... 21

3.2.8 Foundatio!1 and Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) ................................................................ 21

3.1.9 Justice centres - Uganda ...................................................................................................... 21

3.2.15 The Role of Justice, law and order sector .......................................................................... 23

CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................. 25

4.0 Benefits of doing pro bono work ............................................................................................ 25

4.1 Development of imp01iant skills necessary in the legal profession ........................................ 25

4.2 Conduct training of skills in witness, interviewing, counseling, ADR mechanism, legal

writing and drafting, legal research among other. ........................................................................ 25

4.3. It enhances career opportunities for law students .................................................................. 25

4.2 Challenges ofpro-bono practice in Uganda ............................................................................ 26

4.3 Findings from the field .............................................................................................. 30

4.4 Presentation of findings ............................................................................................ 31