Advocates have renewed calls for the immediate passage of the long-pending Legal Aid Bill as delays in justice system continue to deny victims especially women and girls timely redress in cases of gender-based violence.
Tororo District Woman MP Sarah Opendi decried the sluggish pace of investigations and court processes, noting that many survivors are forced to abandon their cases due to prolonged delays.
“Some of these cases drag on. Investigations are not concluded in time, and even when they reach court, they take too long. Many women give up, and cases are either dismissed or left pending,” Opendi told reporters.
She also cited the high cost of legal services as a significant barrier to justice for poor Ugandans, particularly vulnerable women and girls. Opendi urged Parliament to urgently pass the Legal Aid Bill, which would make legal representation more accessible.
Though the bill passed its first reading and was reviewed by the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, it has since stalled due to objections from the Attorney General.
Opendi stressed that once enacted, it would require law firms to offer pro bono services to the indigent.
Praising recent judicial reforms like decentralising Grade One Magistrate Courts, Opendi said access remains limited in remote and underserved areas.
She proposed mobile courts as a solution to bring justice closer to grassroots communities and reduce case backlog.
She also called on Parliament to establish time limits for handling gender-based violence cases, arguing that delays erode victims’ confidence in the system. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” she said.
At the same event, Dr. Katja Kerschbaumer, Head of Development Cooperation at the Austrian Embassy, backed the bill’s enactment and called for reform of Uganda’s informal justice systems.
She warned that discriminatory practices persist in these spaces and urged gender-sensitive training and a clear legal mandate for traditional actors.
Speaking at a Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) colloquium, Dr. Kerschbaumer stressed the need for legal clarity and accountability to protect the rights of vulnerable women.
“Access to justice remains a significant challenge for women in Uganda. Rural women, women with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence experience even more acute barriers,” she said.
She emphasised Austria’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s justice reforms, highlighting its long-term partnership with UWONET to advance gender equity and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, UWONET Executive Director Rita Aciro echoed the need for urgent justice reforms. Presenting findings from a 2022 survey on women’s access to justice, Aciro cited social norms, distance, legal illiteracy, and corruption as persistent barriers.
Many women, she said, are pressured to resolve cases at home due to stigma and community expectations, while others face bribes from court and local council officials.
“Women give up their cases because the system is intimidating, expensive, and corrupt,” she said.
Aciro added that digital platforms, while helpful for awareness, often discourage survivors through online harassment and body shaming.
Despite civil society efforts, she noted that limited coverage means many women remain unsupported.
She urged stronger collaboration across government, faith institutions, academia, and the media to translate Uganda’s progressive legal framework into actual justice for women and girls.
“We need to ensure the law meets practice,” Aciro said. “The state must lead, but it’s a collective responsibility to make justice accessible for all.”
The colloquium brought together policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, and development partners to address systemic barriers to justice and advocate for the Legal Aid Bill’s passage during this parliamentary term.