JUSTICE AS A REALITY FOR ALL USING

PRO-BONO AS A PURPOSE DRIVEN

VEHICLE IN LIGHT OF UCLF PERSPECTIVE
PRESENTED DURING THE SIXTH EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIAN JURISTS UNDER US JUSTICE INITIATIVE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHRISTIAN BILINGUAL UNIVERSITY OF CONGO
(CI-UCBC)
22ND MARCH 2023

Prepared and presented by Albert Collins Kyeyune

PhD (fellow) UNICAF- Zambia University, LLM (MAK), MITPL (UMU), MPA (UMI), LLB
(UCU), PGD in L.P (LDC), PGD Cert. in PAM (MAK), PGD cert. in PPM (MAK), PGD cert. in
Research & Consultancy Skills (MAK), and a Cert. in Trial Advocacy Africa (JAA) & Justice
Advocacy-Uganda (NITA), Commissioner for Oath and Notary Public, Lecturer/Professional
advisor, Uganda Christian University and Law Development Centre, in Uganda, Senior Partner,
Mukiibi & Kyeyune Advocates, Board Treasurer & Member, UCLF.
TABLE OF CONTENT 01. Preamble
02. Contextualization of probono service as a purpose
driven vehicle to deliver justice
03. Pro bono and Justice as a reality at UCLF
04.The UCLF’s objectives
05. UCLF focus areas
06. The UCLF’s target beneficiaries
07. Contextualizing the successes of UCLF
08. Pro-Bono and the lawyer of today
Albert Collins Kyeyune
09. Concluding remarks
Preamble
To be of God all of us have to practice justice. This is the only way we
can achieve justice as a reality for all. I am talking about accepting to
give as well as receive justice unconditionally. This is what the purpose
driven vehicle known as probono demands. We cannot deceive
ourselves that we can achieve justice for all if we do not embrace pro-
bono in teaching law, practicing law, enactment of laws, adjudication of
cases and in executing judicial decisions.

I annex justice to a human body, and how it functions. One part cannot work well in isolation of the other. When one is hurting
it inconveniences the functioning of all other body parts. This confirms that pro-bono is a building block in the administration
of justice. It is a seed of justice for generations.

In building these blocks of justice by way of pro-bono all of us matter. All of us have to be directional to enable this to happen.
There is a lot of self-sacrifice, compromise, and being the game changer notwithstanding the circumstances. It is a game of
encouraging a friend to encourage a friend: this fits perfectly in the vision of UCBC: “accept to be transformed to transform”.
Contextualization of probono service as a purpose
driven vehicle to deliver justice

The Council of the Law Institute of |Victoria, definitions proposed 1996:

It is inherent in the professional responsibilities of a legal practitioner to contribute an identifiable part of his or her time
to work without charge or at a substantially reduced charges;

• To establish or preserve the rights of the poor, the disadvantaged, or classes of persons who otherwise deserve
public support; OR

• For non-profit organisations having objects for the benefit of sections of the public, OR

• For the improvement of the law, or of the law or the legal system to enable the extension of probono service (sic).

A great probono advocate in the name of Janet Reno had this to say; “I think lawyers who engage in pro bono service to
protect those who cannot help themselves are truly the heroes and the heroines of the legal profession”.
Contextualization of probono service as a purpose driven
vehicle to deliver justice - Cont'd

We should never forget that being a lawyer is divinely inspired. This agrees with the scripture that “give justice to the
weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (Psalms 82:3, Isaiah 1:17). I know there
many people who can afford to pay for a lawyer at any cost. But as far as injustice remains at our footsteps,
neighbourhoods, communities and/or in different Countries where we reside, it will always catch up with us in one way
or the other. Martin Luther is his well thought of words had this to say:
“an injustice anywhere is a threat everywhere else, because we are all caught up in a web of mutual relationships”.

We all agree that injustice is evil and the only thing for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing about
things that matter. This forms the entry point of all of us to be part of the answer.
Pro bono and
Justice as a reality
at UCLF

To fulfil its vision of ‘a world where justice and humanity is a reality for all’ UCLF was started by selfless young men and men
in 1987 as a fellowship of Christian law students at Makerere University in Uganda. In 2005 under Reg. No.
INDR55361745NB, UCLF was registered into a Non-Government Organisation in order to strategically and legally fulfil its
aspirations, vision, mission, and desired objectives. Currently, UCLF has grown into an influential association of about 500
active members and many more bystanders who are working in all facets of the Justice, Law, and Order Sector.

UCLF was designed with a mission; “to share our faith in Christ Jesus, promote access to justice and the respect for human
dignity, through speaking up, fellowship, mentorship and defending the rights of the vulnerable.”
Pro bono and
Justice as a reality
at UCLF-Cont'd

The core values of UCLF are:

• Integrity
• Compassion
• Accountability
• Equity
• Teamwork
• Fellowship
• Professionalism
• Service.
The UCLF’s • To inform and educate people from whatever section of the society,
and especially those who have no access to legal information,
objectives are: about the Law and their rights;
• To advocate for, represent and advise those who have no voice and
are unfairly disadvantaged;
• To advocate for enactment and implementation of fair laws and
policies which are in harmony with Christian values;
• To encourage member participation in ethical legal practice and
community involvement by providing Pro-Bono opportunities to
the indigent clients.

Since 2005, utilizing its selfless brigade of selfless Christian lawyers,

UCLF has supported vulnerable persons to access legal aid (pro-bono)
services in over 10 districts in Uganda including Kampala, the capital
city, Gulu, Wakiso, Mukono, Masaka, Kasese, Moyo, Kayunga,
Nakasongola and Buikwe.
UCLF focus areas;
a) Criminal Public Defence and Civil Legal Aid: the focus here has been to increase court representation
of the vulnerable members of the communities who have been found themselves charged with both capital
and petty offences. The programme touches both in Court and out of Court for accused persons in
criminal matters, whether adults and juveniles. The civil legal aid focus on either the plaintiff or defendant
who cannot afford legal representation. The civil legal aid concentrates on enabling parties to settle
matters outside Court by use of the best ADR mechanism in the circumstances.

However, when mediation fails UCLF goes ahead to offer Court representation to the vulnerable party.
UCLF focus areas; - Cont'd 1
b) Students Programme: This supports Law students to grow spiritually and build their skills in legal aid
(pro-bono service) so that they can become better lawyers in their selected career development path.
Among the activities carried out under this programme include: Student inter university moot
competitions, Student symposium, Student leaders’ seminars, Student retreats and Orientations. UCLF
maintains a resource centre where students can access legal information for their research. The program
runs in all Law schools in the country and currently some law students in Makerere University and
Uganda Christian University are providing legal aid alongside UCLF practicing lawyers.

c) The paralegal services: UCLF provides legal aid services to persons caught up in the criminal justice
system at police, prisons, and courts of law.
UCLF focus areas; - Cont'd 2
Through, the use of community volunteers who are trained and supervised, UCLF offers Paralegals
services in communities. In this programme UCLF believes in transforming to transform.

Legal Education and awareness: UCLF builds the Capacities of Local Council Leaders, prisoners, Law
Enforcement Officers, religious bodies, and Community members on the salient issues in laws and
policies that govern the citizens of Uganda in both civil and criminal matters. This approach strengthens
the capacity of beneficiaries besides awareness raising. Over the years of serving humanity UCLF has
compiled various publications on Alternative Dispute Resolution Manual, Pastors’ Manual on Community
Legal Awareness, A Manual, and -
UCLF focus areas; - Cont'd 3
fliers on Self-representation in Magistrates’ Courts and Posters on domestic violence, marriage,
succession, and land registration.

Research and advocacy work: UCLF executes this practice area by contributing to practice change and
policy initiatives and reforms through research and advocacy. In 2016, UCLF was successful in being part
of the campaign that led to the passing of the Children Amendment Act. UCLF has contributed to
jurisprudence answering the rights of the marginalised groups on land. It has made recommendations on
how the legal framework governing the rights of children in detention centres should be improved.
Currently UCLF is working with Church Umbrella bodies to develop a working policy for faith based
organisations in Uganda.
UCLF focus areas; - Cont'd 4
Administering Justice through fellowships: Through the lawyers and students, forums such as fellowship
meetings, dinners, UCLF has had an opportunity to envision and disciple a whole generation of lawyers;
challenging them to use their skills for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Lawyers in Uganda are faced
with many ethical choices; bribery and corruption are commonplace and the dominant philosophy in the
legal profession is concerned with making as much money as quickly as possible. Through this work
UCLF is able to challenge some of these prevailing attitudes in Uganda’s culture.
The UCLF’s target beneficiaries
are:
UCLF in implementing its focus areas utilizes a wealth of
beneficiaries and partners:

• All vulnerable persons including women, men, children,

elderly persons, and persons with disability.
• People in conflict with the law especially suspects at police prisons and
courts; and
• Local justice delivery actors including Local Councils, traditional leaders,
police officers, prison officers, lawyers, probation officers and other
Government officers depending on the matter being handled.
Contextualizing the successes of UCLF:
For close to 16 years UCLF has had a full blast engagement in the provision of pro-bono services it has registered a
milestone of successes: represented litigants in courts of law; partnered with judicial officers to hold court camps in
prisons; supported communities to understand legal processes and procedures in the ordinary local languages and obtain
justice. UCLF also provided legal aid in its legal services division through pro bono court representation in civil and
criminal matters, legal education, Paralegal services, and policy advocacy. The pro bono legal aid service entailed the
provision of free legal services to the vulnerable. These interventions contributed to decongesting police cells and
prisons and clearing case backlog through expeditious trials.

As a result of UCLF’s interventions for the last 16 years, over 6,000,000 persons have had their access to justice needs
solved. UCLF has enabled vulnerable persons to access legal aid services in the districts of Kampala, Gulu, Wakiso,
Mukono, Masaka, Kasese, Moyo, Gulu, Kayunga, Arua, Terego, Madi, Okollo and Buikwe. Over 100,000 people have
been reached and as result families have been empowered with knowledge on human rights which has helped them to
resolve their disputes without recourse to courts of law. The empowerment is implemented through community
sensitisations, radio and dissemination of Community awareness materials.
Contextualizing the successes of UCLF: - Cont'd 1
Trainings have been conducted on self-representation and detainee rights to over 20,000 prisoners and juveniles in
remand homes in Uganda. This enabled most detainees to self-represent and have their sentences reduced, some
released while others granted bail. Over a period 16 years, UCLF has been able to implement its interventions in over
13 (thirteen) prisons: Luzira (Kampala); Kigo (Wakiso); Busaana, Ntengyeru and Kangulumira (Kayunga); Nyenga,
Lugazi and Buikwe (Buikwe); Rukoki, Nyabirongo, Mubuku and Bwera (Kaseese); and Silili in Moyo district. Pro-
bono service initiatives have been implemented in over 5 (five) remand homes: Naguru (Kampala), Mbale, Ihungu
(Masindi), Gulu and Kitumba (Fort portal).

UCLF has facilitated over 100,000 (ten thousand) ADR related settlements and has registered almost 100% success
with only a few failing and this contributed to reduced conflict in the community of UCLF’s operations.

A total of twenty thousand (20 000) clients have been represented in courts of law. The matters handled included
criminal (both juveniles and adults) and civil matters (family, land and civil disputes) in various courts including;
Kampala, Wakiso, Masaka, Mbale, Luweero, Nakasongola, Gulu, Kasese, Kayunga, Buikwe and Mukono.
Contextualizing the successes of UCLF: - Cont'd 2
Over ninety-four thousand eight hundred (94 800) vulnerable people have been assisted through Paralegal Advisory
Services (PAS). The PAS programme of UCLF seeks to assist persons in conflict with the law including children,
women, elderly persons and refugees.
Pro-Bono and It sounds crazy to ask a lawyer of this generation to offer pro-bono
services. It is easier if the same request is made to a Christian lawyer
the lawyer of because justice is one of the foundational pillars of the kingdom of
today: God. Mathew 6:33 commands us to seek first the kingdom of God
above all else, and live righteously, and he will give us everything we
need. The scripture implies that justice is part of God’s nature. It is the
way God runs the universe. Justice is the natural desire in every person
to the extent that even when we sin, we still want justice to be
administered in our favour.

When leaders and the powerful at all levels of society setup are unjust
and unrighteous, their actions impact negatively on the poor and
powerless. This may even hinder the worshipping of God especially
when it is practiced by Christians. God holds the poor in high esteem.
That is what the scriptures say.
Pro-Bono and Because we follow a just God, we must uphold justice and
righteousness. And when we do nothing about the injustice, we become
the lawyer of
injustice ourselves. Let us choose to take the faith to fight the evil of
today: - injustice and make justice a reality for all. This will require us to go to
Cont'd the battle field by choosing to extend free legal services.

Wherever we are in the justice, law and order sector, students, well-
wishers and/or beneficiaries we can be part of the reality by doing
everything within our means to see justice for all.
Concluding remarks

The theme of this conference that “being transformed to transform” and what I consider to be the theory
behind, that: “seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all will be added onto you”
reminds me that as Christian lawyers we are obliged to make justice a fabric of our thinking. In the
chaos, wickedness, uncertainties, volatile, turbulent and ambiguous legal systems of the day, let us not
lose sight of the fact that God is justice and he grants us justice unconditionally-at no pay. This is where
exactly affording free legal services fits in. Always be reminded to work towards, extending a hand of
help in order to achieve justice for all as a reality.
Get In Touch
With Me
Phone
+256 776 384279

Website
Kac Website

Address
Plot 419, Nabunya Road,
towards Lubaga Miracle Center
next to Heka Enterprises. P.O
BOX 12470, Kampala, Uganda
THANK YOU
Prepared and presented by Albert Collins Kyeyune
PhD (fellow) UNICAF- Zambia University, LLM (MAK), MITPL (UMU), MPA (UMI),
LLB (UCU), PGD in L.P (LDC), PGD Cert. in PAM (MAK), PGD cert. in PPM (MAK),
PGD cert. in Research & Consultancy Skills (MAK), and a Cert. in Trial Advocacy Africa
(JAA) & Justice Advocacy-Uganda (NITA), Commissioner for Oath and Notary Public,
Lecturer/Professional advisor, Uganda Christian University and Law Development Centre,
in Uganda, Senior Partner, Mukiibi & Kyeyune Advocates, Board Treasurer & Member,
UCLF.