“Enabling all to live in a safe and just society”

REFORM THROUGH A SECTOR-WIDE APPROACH (SWAP)

Who are the partners in the reform process?

The Government of Uganda has entered into a partnership for reform with key development partners. They are

• The Government of Austria
• The Government of Denmark
• The Government of Germany
• The Government of Ireland
• The Government of Netherlands
• The Government of Norway
• The Government of Sweden
• The Government of the United Kingdom
• The Government of the United States of America
• The European Commission
• The World Bank

The Government of Uganda has also began a Civil Society Partnership with Community Based Organisations and Legal Aid Service Providers

What else should I know?

Leadership, Steering and Technical Committees and various working groups manage the Sector programme.
Each institution has developed a Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) aimed at helping the Sector achieve its stated mission and goals.
JLOS institutions’ Policy and Planning Departments or Units can provide more detailed information on the programme activities and benefits.

How can I be a part of the reform process?

The success of the Justice Law and Order Sector Reform Programmes depends on the full support and participation of all stakeholders. This means that all of us need to commit ourselves to being change agents in the manner in which JLOS services are delivered by

• Fostering a Human Rights culture across JLOS institutions
• Promoting Rule of Law and Due Process
• Securing Access to Justice for all people
• Ensuring a significant reduction in the incidence of crime
• Promoting principles of Crime Prevention, as well as Enforcement of Contracts
• Encouraging Grass Roots Voices and community development

What is a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp)?

A Sector-wide Approach (SWAp) is a new way of tackling development related issues.

The key features of a SWAp include:

• An analysis of key constraints through examination of all contributing factors
• Bringing together all stakeholders to develop a sector-wide, prioritized, costed strategic plan for reform
• Collection of “baseline data” and setting of performance indicators for monitoring and evaluation of reform
• Donor budget support to aid reform to ensure national ownership

In the case of Uganda’s Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS), the member institutions in the SWAp are:

• Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
• Ministry of Internal Affairs
• The Judiciary
• Uganda Prison Services
• Uganda Police Force
• The Directorate of Public Prosecutions
• The Judicial Services Commission
• The Uganda Law Reform Commission
• Ministry of Local Government – Local Council Courts
• Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development – Probation Services


What are the JLOS Reform Goals & Purpose?

Super Goal: Enhance the quality of life and ensure that poverty in Uganda is eradicated Goal: The improved safety of the person, security of property and access to justice that ensures a strong economic environment to encourage private sector development and benefits poor and vulnerable people
Purpose: To promote the rule of law, increase public confidence in the Criminal Justice System, and to enhance the ability of the private sector to make and enforce commercial contracts.


Which are the Key Areas for Reform?

In the medium-term (3 – 5 years), the Justice Law and Order Sector made the policy decision to focus on two areas;

• Criminal Justice Reform; and
• Commercial Justice Reform

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

• Legal Services Reform through improved accountability, monitoring and coordination across the Sector, Codes of Conduct and Performance Standards and Guidelines, Protection of Rights of particularly of vulnerable groups and rationalized and cost effective legal representation.
  
• Improved Administration of Justice through increased staff retention, improved skill levels, efficiency savings and cost effective service delivery
  Improved Civic and Legal Education through increased knowledge of rights and obligations, sensitization and training and publicity
  Law Reform through achievement of consistency and transparency in sentencing and prosecution, and development of laws responsive to public need

COMMERCIAL JUSTICE REFORM

Commercial Court Reform through a customer service strategy that promotes improved accessibility and case backlog clearance through faster case processing and promotion of alternative dispute resolution
Companies and Land Registries Reform through file rehabilitation, computerization and administrative reform

Reform of Key Commercial laws and the establishment of a sustainable process for ensuring business friendly laws and regulations
Strengthening Commercial Lawyers by establishing a competitive regulatory environment for the legal profession, improved disciplinary procedures and codes of conduct, and capacity building programmes.