• webadmin
• Blog List, News Updates, Uncategorized
• November 28, 2022
• 0 Comments

The Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC) and Disability Law Rights Centre (DLRC) collaborated to commemorate the Legal Aid Awareness Day on the 15^th November 2022. The theme of the day was ‘Promoting Disability Rights, Awareness, Inclusion, and Access to Justice’.The event was one of the those organised to celebrate 10years of PILAC’ existence since its establishment in 2012. PILAC and DLRC are some of the innovative units established at the Makerere University School of Law (SoL) to support research and advocacy.

Commemoration of the Legal Aid Awareness day was guided by three aims i.e., Creating awareness on human rights, governance and the law; Providing information to the public to facilitate access to justice; and offer law students from various universities and opportunity participate in the social transformation of society through assisting in the legal awareness campaigns.

The event was attended by students, academia, public as well as government agencies including National Social Security Fund, National Identification and Registration Authority, Office of the Administrator General, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development among others. The government agencies brought services nearer to the community.

Activities of the day included a procession around Makerere University; a Keynote Address on Overcoming Stigma and Discrimination: Perspectives in Litigating and navigating the judicial system; Presentation by Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development on Initiatives to Promote and Protect rights of PWDs by Government: A glimpse at the Parish Development Model; a Presentation by Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET)  on the  National Legal Aid Bill and its relevance to Persons with Disabilities; and Presentations by Student Representatives on Lived experiences of being a Student with Disabilities at the University. Mobile Advocates Booths were also available for service to persons with legal issues.

In her remarks, Ms. Sandra Oryema – Head of the Legal Aid Unit of PILAC explained that, ‘The provision of legal services to those who otherwise could not afford them is an integral part of social justice and social reform and improved access to justice may result in critical law reform or in fundamental changes in the rights of the poor.  The legal aid day helps stakeholders to focus on addressing the access to justice needs of the community and highlight the need for Government funded legal aid if society is to ensure equal justice for all’.

During deliberations, stakeholders stressed the need for effective implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2020. The act was passed to ensure respect and promotion of the human rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities; however, gaps remain in its implementation.

Dr. Damalie Nagitta Musoke, Coordinator – DLRC explained that, whereas the act bridged a gap and provided for inclusion, the implementation has challenges. ‘The law was passed, now we want to come together to see that it works for those it was intended to benefit. We commend the government for the steps but funding and commitment remain a major gap’, Dr. Nagitta Musoke added.

PILAC is the first Legal Clinic established at a University in Uganda. The Clinic has been instrumental in transforming the teaching of legal education and legal practice through its experiential learning and strategic litigation strategies embedded in the various units namely: Clinical Legal Education (CLE) programme, Legal Aid Unit (LAU), Network of Public Interest Lawyers (NETPIL) and the East African Network of University Law Clinics (EANULAC). The interventions of PILAC have supported 600 students, over 1000 clients and 200 legal practitioners.