The Kagadi resident district commissioner Lillian Ruteraho has cautioned non-governmental organizations implementing projects in the area to prioritize integrity and avoid corruption.
While launching the transformative legal aid project dubbed the United Nations Office on drugs and crime in Kagadi district aimed at enhancing access to justice and combating crime, Ruteraho noted with concern that some NGOs launch projects but mid-way, they deviate from the earlier set programs, calling for high level of integrity but also avoid corruption.
“When we talk of enhancing access to justice and combating crimes, this will see a lot of wrong elements exposed to you. Avoid corruption to do against what is right which may undermine its impact, but importantly the integrity is very important”, Ruteraho said
Ndibwami Yosiya, the Kagadi district chairman highlighted its potential to provide crucial legal support to prisoners who previously lacked access legal representation due to its provision of free legal services.
“For a fact, we have a lot of people in prison but have no capacity to get lawyers, I know government gives lawyers but they are few to represent everyone, so the project will see a lot of people in prison access to lawyers and have their cases expedited as fast as possible”, Ndibwami said.
Dr Sylivia Namubiru, the Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET) executive director noted that the new Project is rolled out across the 20 districts in Uganda among those including Kakumiro, Kibaale, Kagadi with an aim to bolster court administration, increase access to legal aid services for vulnerable groups, and prevent crime among youth.
“When you look at most crimes committed by the young people, they are mostly influenced by age or drugs. One of our main focus is mindset change among the young generation to avoid drugs but rather focus at work, but also help those that have been arrested and imprisoned but did not have legal representation,” Namubiru said.
Shortly after the launch, the project donated 12 bicycles and 12 riding jackets to aid in logistical support for district agents tasked with project implementation.
The five-year project which commenced in 2022 in Uganda runs through until 2027 aiming to address systematic challenges.