The Ugandan Judiciary has launched the Justice For Her Project, an initiative aimed at ensuring full access to justice for survivors of violence, particularly women and girls.
The project seeks to dismantle barriers that have prevented victims from accessing justice by promoting a survivor-centered approach.
According to Deputy Chief Justice Designate Dr. Flavian Zeija, the project is a commitment by justice stakeholders and development partners to ensure that justice is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all.
Dr. Zeija noted that gender-based violence remains a pervasive problem worldwide, and Uganda is no exception. Many women and girls have suffered in silence, trapped by societal norms, economic barriers, and systemic inefficiencies. The project aims to address these challenges by strengthening the capacity of justice institutions to respond to GBV cases.
The Justice 4Her Project will be piloted in the High Court circuits of Gulu and Masaka, covering several Chief Magistrates Courts.
Uganda’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Frances Abodo, has expressed concern over the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country. Despite legislative efforts to combat SGBV, the number of cases reported to the police, handled by the DPP’s office, and brought to court continues to increase.
Abodo noted that sexual offenses dominate high court sessions, with rape and aggravated defilement being the most prevalent.
The Ambassador of Austria to Uganda Dr.Katja Kershbaumer emphasized the importance of addressing gender-based violence (GBV), sharing the heartbreaking story of 8-year-old Aminah. Aminah was defiled by her three cousin brothers, resulting in the loss of her uterus.
Despite receiving medical attention and support from well-wishers, Aminah’s case was delayed and marred by corruption. Tragically, she was in and out of the hospital before passing away in 2024.
Natasha Butorac, UN Women’s Programme Specialist on Women, Peace and Security commended the police and Judiciary for their tireless efforts to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Uganda. She also expressed gratitude to the Austrian Government for funding the project.
The Outgoing Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu highlighted the staggering case load of 173,623 cases, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to tackle this challenge. She noted that the National Development Plan 4 prioritizes GBV cases and called for timely intervention to support victims.
Report by: Betty Zziwa
