The Uganda Law Society Launches the Rule of Law Report

The Uganda Law Society launches the Rule of Law Report.

On November 17, 2023, during the 15th Annual Rule of Law Symposium held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) released the third quarterly Rule of Law Report (July–October 2023) under the theme “Advancing the Fights for Human Rights: The Critical Role of Security Agencies.”

The report focuses on the review of events like the week-long Legal Aid/Pro Bono Week, numerous professional trainings for members, youth engagements, the Ben Kiwanuka Annual Memorial Lecture, and other engagements all of which demonstrate ULS’ unwavering commitment to the betterment of its members, the community, and the nation at large.

It also captures critical events and issues, including the appointment of new judicial officers, the introduction and passage of new legislation, reports on cases of human rights violations, the empanelment of commissions of inquiry to investigate disputes of wide importance, the rising cases of enforced disappearances, violations of the rights of journalists, and general reports on the state of governance and the Rule of Law in Uganda.

According to Mr. Bernard Oundo, “the President of the Uganda Law Society, achieving an ideal state of rule of law in our society is a gradual and often painstaking process, but the rewards are infinitely worth the effort put in. The Rule of Law Report aims to inspire collaborative efforts towards a more just, equitable, and accountable society where the rule of law prevails for the benefit of all citizens.”

Mr. Oundo called on the relevant government, ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as civil society and the citizenry, to take keen interest in the recommendations outlined in the report in order to propel Uganda to the ideal state of governance and development that is desired.

While delivering a keynote speech, Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, emphasised that the role of security agencies in promoting human rights should be critically assessed, taking into consideration all security organs. He called upon security agencies to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law and to ensure that impunity does not prevail in the execution of their duties.

Hon. Nobert Mao, the cabinet minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs noted that the government is working tirelessly to increase the number of judges in the high court, and court of appeal as well as recruiting magistrates in every constituency of Uganda to reduce on case backlog in courts of law. He also advised opposition leaders that regardless of one’s affiliation, leaders should focus on holding constructive engagements with the state if their agenda is regime change.

It should be noted that in order to ensure that everyone is subject to the law and that no one is above it, the rule of law requires that laws be transparent, unambiguous, and administered uniformly.