 |
| One of the students conducting a sensitization project |
UCLF Community sensitization
UCLF has worked in Uganda for quite some time now. Its work involves litigation wherein it represents people in court, it does mass sensitizations of communities in matters concerning but not limited to of succession, land matters, family matters. It also provides counseling, legal education, job training.
It strengthens justice systems by identifying gaps in the system which prevent protection for the poor and then works with the police, prosecutors, courts and other stakeholders to address these complex challenges.
The Aims and Objectives of the project
This project had its own fundamental aims and objectives that the students wanted to achieve at least within the time they had been allocated to the project and such objectives among many others include;
- To help assist local leaders and the community understand and apply the law.
- To help ensure the community know their rights.
- To improve students’ engagement in the practical aspects of the law.
Our involvement in the project
The students were involved in the following;
Educating the community on their rights.
We were involved in the teaching and explaining to the community what their rights are especially those enshrined in the constitution and how to represent themselves in the courts of law and instances where they may not be able to represent themselves. And how they can effectively enjoy their rights.
Aiding the community leaders understand and apply the law on land rights and succession.
We did sensitizations of the community leaders on the rights of the people they serve and their role towards the community. We also interacted with those who rights that had been violated for purposes of helping them ensure justice is reached for those who are not able to effectively enforce their rights.
Sometimes during the interactions there would be flaring of tempers and signs of lost trust in gaining justice or freedom through justice by the community for example in matters of land grabbing, we came in to shine a light of hope and trust for them towards the justice they sought. This was even made more possible because some of the people too showed signs of hope in progress of their cases and did not want others to lose hope too.
Giving general legal advice to the community.
This involved listening to the community on the grievances affecting them, the progress of their cases and the possible measures or procedures they can take and the laws that are necessary regarding the proceedings in courts of law.
All these and others were done with the help of the Counsel Ann.
Description of the activity
Legal Education on the communities’ rights regarding will writing and succession, domestic violence and land rights
We were involved in sensitizing the community about their rights regarding will making, succession and how the wills can be enforced. We also went ahead and enlightened the community about domestic violence its dangers and where to go to in order to attain justice as for the victims of abuse. We also sensitized the community about their land rights in the community and on the land they own.
The discussions involved splitting up into groups where Asiimwe Jotham did community sensitization regarding wills and succession where for example he was able to interact with a one of the members of the community who was being denied inheritance of property that she has rights over, Jotham was able to educate her about the circumstances under which she can benefit from a will and where to go for redress for example the chief magistrates court family division close to her.
The other Participant, Atwiine Allan dealt with the issue of land rights where after vigorous interactions with the community realized that most people were ignorant about their land rights especially about acquiring land titles over the land they own for example a one community member living on a Kibanja was worried of being evicted due to the land issues that were entangling his family land and there to Atwiine had the vigor to tell him about the rights on a kibanja land and the interests that he gets as a person. He did this for quite some time while the rest of the community attentively listened.
As regards domestic violence, the discussion in this area was conducted by Opolot Maria wherein she let known to the community what amounts to domestic violence under the laws of Uganda, the effects thereof and where possibly those affected can get help from, she interacted with one member, the chairman of the area visited who acknowledged that domestic violence was still persistent in the area. The chairperson made the observation that residents in the community were scared of reporting it due to fear of shame, however Maria was able to convince the community about the right person and that it’s a crime subjecting any one to the domestic violence under the laws of Uganda.
We hence forth went ahead and advised the community to always follow up their cases and proceedings and how they can represent themselves where they have no legal representation.
Results realized during the project.
We were able to help the community acquire vital Knowledge for the community about the law and how effectively they can apply it.
We were able to instill more faith in the community in the justice system of Uganda so that they may be able to bring forth their grievances and abuses on their rights for justice in the courts of law.
We also enhanced Communication between the community leaders and the community for purpose of curbing the crime of domestic violence for example the area councilor a one was more than ready to receive any complaints for reconciliation before proceeding to higher authorities.
We ensured that there were Self-representation skills for the community gained.
The community was able to acknowledge their rights as human beings and as Ugandans in the community.
General legal knowledge was instilled unto the community on the procedure of proceedings in court and follow-up for example a one member was ready to file a case regarding a property dispute involving her and her neighbors since she was now knowledgeable on what her rights regarding succession are.
We also improved community leaders and community relationship through the knowledge acquired on the leaders’ role towards the community.
Lessons learnt.
- Most members of the community do not know their rights efficiently for example rights regarding acquisition of land and land titles, making of wills and succession and domestic violence. Thus, an urgent need to educate them on their rights.
- The community is very much willing to corporate with the judiciary and the local leaders to ensure they get fair hearings regarding their complaints on abuse of their rights.
- Very many community members especially women and girls have at least experienced domestic violence in their lives and feared to report the violence due to lack of trust in the system.
- A small number of members of the community know about will making and succession and how or where to legally enforce the will.
- Among other lessons learnt to be more patient so as to be able to attentively listen and give the community relevant advice.
- Our communication and counselling skills were enhanced as we interacted with the prisoners.
- We also learnt that co-operation and working as a team helps accomplish a lot of work in a short time. We accomplished greater work as a team and the oneness.
Challenges faced while conducting the project.
- Limited time for interaction with the community thus we had to wrap up fast yet more members of the community had more to ask regarding their rights and help.
- Low turn up compared to size and the number of people that live in the area
- Poor communication due to the language diversity of the place for example most of the locals were only able to understand Luganda where as others could only communicate in their traditional language Lusoga and didn’t understand English.
- There was difficult getting to the area as the roads are in a poor state which consumed a lot of time getting there.
- Lack of a close police station to report any abuse in case it happens for those affected in the community.
Our recommendations
Time management should be looked into by both the participants and the officials/community leaders because it was double sided.
A follow up mechanism should be adopted to check if there are any proceedings taking place regarding wills, succession, land rights and domestic violence in the area.
The criteria for receiving complaints from community members for any abuse on their rights should be revised since most of the community members don’t trust their local leaders with in acquiring justice.
Processing charts or drawings illustrating the law regarding how for example disputes can be resolved in the community before taking them to higher authorities for easy understanding by the community.
Attending meetings regarding how decrees and court orders can be effectively adhered to without causing injustices to the community.
Efforts should also be made to conduct massive sensitization amongst the community about the possibility of self-representation and how to enjoy their rights. It is also important to empower women and children, to seek available justice mechanisms to help them acquire justice.
CONCLUSION
We extend our sincere gratitude to our lecturer Ms Achieng Miriam, our Tutor Luleti Jonan and Uganda Christian University at large for giving us an opportunity to have such a great learning experience. It wasn’t easy at the start, just like any other activity may seem at the beginning, but in the course of it and also by the end of it, we realized that it is something worthwhile, a skill we had to attain before completing law school, and it has helped us to understand that much as we have studied the law, we need to be able to practice it in the real world out. We humbly appreciate, and we are looking forward to constant practice of legal education and counselling and to master the art and skill of it.
Maria, students of clinical legal education.
No comments:
Post a Comment