The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has raised serious concerns about the widening gap in access to justice, attributing the issue to the government’s delay in passing the long-awaited National Legal Aid Bill.
As vulnerable Ugandans continue to struggle with the high cost of legal services, the absence of a legal framework to provide free legal aid has left many without a voice in the justice system.
Speaking at an event to recognize outstanding pro bono advocates, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe criticized the delay, calling it indicative of a broader systemic failure to prioritize the rights and needs of the poor.
He warned that the growing commercialization of legal services has turned justice into a privilege reserved for the wealthy, rather than a fundamental right for all citizens.
The National Legal Aid Bill, first introduced in 2019 and read in Parliament in 2020, was initially dropped by the 10th Parliament.
It was reintroduced in 2021 and again in 2022, but since then, Parliament has been silent on its progress, raising questions about the political will to address legal exclusion in Uganda.
Asiimwe called on lawmakers to stop treating the bill as a secondary issue, highlighting its far-reaching implications on the country’s social and economic wellbeing.
He emphasized that access to justice is not just a legal issue, but one that directly affects the livelihoods, families, land rights, health, and dignity of citizens.
At the same event, Counsel Evelyn Kabonesa of Mulindwa Kasule and Co. Advocates reminded young lawyers that the legal profession carries a moral responsibility.
She challenged them to rethink the belief that all legal services must be paid for, urging them to embrace the spirit of pro bono work.
Advocate Judith Nabukeera, upon receiving her recognition, encouraged parents to make a concerted effort to nurture boy children, who she said are increasingly neglected in the current social climate.
As Uganda marked the International Day of Families, ULS’s message was clear: without the passage of the Legal Aid Bill, justice for many families will remain out of reach.
By Ben Musanje
16th May 2025
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