Mobile Courts in Developing a Child Responsive Justice System By Lumunye Timothy
By Kelvin Njoroge- Consulting
- Dec 08, 2024
- 1 minute read
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In Uganda, the concept of mobile courts, first implemented on April 15, 2013, within the Magistrate's Courts, was a joint initiative between the Ugandan Judiciary and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
In Uganda, the concept of mobile courts, first implemented on April 15, 2013, within the Magistrate's Courts, was a joint initiative between the Ugandan Judiciary and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This pilot program was specifically designed to enhance access to justice for victims of crimes within Nakivale, Uganda's largest and oldest refugee settlement.
The program aimed to address the challenges refugees faced in accessing legal services and the long waiting times for their cases to be heard. By bringing the court to the refugees, the mobile courts facilitated the hearing of cases including those related to murder, burglary, and sexual offenses. The initiative was intended to deter crime and provide legal assistance directly to both refugees and Ugandan nationals within the settlement. The UNHCR noted that the courts would hold sessions lasting 15 to 30 days, hearing up to 30 cases per session.
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Kelvin Njoroge
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