Uganda joins fight against transnational crimes

Amidst efforts to strengthen rule of law in the country, the attorney general William   Byaruhanga has signed a letter of undertaking on behalf of government in new joint efforts to combat transnational crimes on the continent.

Byaruhanga says the partnership is very timely since Uganda is battling numerous crimes that involve a cross border aspect and involving extremism such as terrorism, human/drug/firearm trafficking and money laundering.

The attorney general noted, “We have been a victim of transnational crime, we have been victims of terrorism that was on a regional scope and we have also had to repatriate some criminals from South Africa.

“These are all examples that signing this collaborative initiative is important for us in the face of numerous transnational crimes,” he added.

Francis Gimara the President of the Uganda Law Society added; “we wish to welcome the collaboration initiative and congratulate the attorney general about it. We as the law society pledge our support.”

John Edozie the international Advisor at Conference of Western Attorney Generals Africa Alliance Partnership (CWAG – AAP) says they seek to use the opportunity to discuss with the Uganda justice, law and order sector on best approaches of combating the transnational crimes.  He adds that the legal fraternity should brace themselves with the intricacies surrounding transnational crimes whose perpetrators have no respect for boundaries.

 

CWAG-AAP collaborates with African ministries of justice, attorney generals, Solicitor Generals, public prosecution and law enforcement agencies to share expertise on the fight against cross border crimes.

The signing was at the second Annual Law Conference which was held under the theme: "The Legal Profession & Uganda's Economic Development: Locating the Missing Link".

The president of the Uganda law society who organized the conference Francis Gimara noted that the lawyers should take advantage of current opportunities not only to better their services to individual clients, but also the national and globe at large.

“We need to understand the key drivers of legal service industry and then learn from the best and become part of the global conversation that impacts on the legal profession,” Gimara urged lawyers.

The annual law conference is aimed at bringing the legal fraternity up to date with latest global trends aimed at bettering legal services and understanding crimes.