KAMPALA – The Chief Executive Officer of FIDA Uganda, Ms. Liliane Byarugaba Adriko, has paid a courtesy call on the Principal Judge, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, to strengthen collaboration aimed at improving access to justice, particularly for women, children and other vulnerable groups.
The meeting, held on Wednesday at the Principal Judge’s chambers in Kampala, focused on enhancing cooperation between the Judiciary and FIDA Uganda in promoting accessible, timely and people-centred justice.
Welcoming the delegation, Lady Justice Abodo described FIDA Uganda as “home” to her and thanked the organisation for congratulating her on her appointment as Principal Judge.
She commended FIDA Uganda for its long-standing contribution to legal aid and its unwavering commitment to ensuring justice reaches vulnerable communities across Uganda.
“The Judiciary has witnessed the impact of our partnership with FIDA Uganda, even in some of the country’s most remote areas where the organisation continues to provide legal services to those who need them most,” Lady Justice Abodo said.
She noted that although the Judiciary has the constitutional mandate to administer justice, it cannot fulfil this responsibility alone and therefore depends on strong partnerships with organisations such as FIDA Uganda.
The Principal Judge called on the organisation to support ongoing efforts to promote Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), mediation and plea bargaining through sustained public awareness and community sensitisation.
“Many court users remain unaware of these mechanisms, yet they provide faster, more affordable and less adversarial ways of resolving disputes,” she said.
Lady Justice Abodo also encouraged FIDA Uganda to continue mentoring young lawyers, stressing that the legal profession should be founded on integrity, public service and a commitment to healing society.
Nsangi Chief Magistrate, Her Worship Winfred Naigaga Kyobiika, a former Board Member of FIDA Uganda, congratulated the Principal Judge on her appointment and praised the long-standing partnership between the Judiciary and the organisation.
She said the collaboration has advanced legal aid, advocacy and public interest litigation aimed at protecting the rights of women, children and other vulnerable members of society.
Speaking on behalf of FIDA Uganda, Ms. Adriko congratulated Lady Justice Abodo on her appointment, describing her as a long-standing champion of access to justice whose leadership continues to inspire the organisation.
She also recognised Her Worship Kyobiika’s contribution during her tenure on the FIDA Uganda Board, particularly in strengthening collaboration with the International Association of Women Judges–Uganda Chapter, promoting gender-responsive jurisprudence through judicial exchanges, and supporting initiatives such as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Ms. Adriko said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss practical challenges affecting women’s access to justice while identifying areas for deeper collaboration between the Judiciary and FIDA Uganda.
While commending the Judiciary for reforms aimed at reducing case backlog, expanding Alternative Dispute Resolution, improving case management, strengthening court infrastructure and advancing digital justice through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), she noted that many women and other vulnerable court users continue to face significant barriers.
These challenges, she said, include long distances to courts, delays in case disposal, limited digital literacy and access, inadequate communication regarding adjournments, and accessibility difficulties for persons with disabilities.
Drawing from FIDA Uganda’s legal aid experience, Ms. Adriko proposed harmonising formal and customary justice systems to better protect women and children, improving communication with litigants whenever court sessions are adjourned or judicial officers are unavailable, expanding circuit court sessions to underserved communities, and dedicating additional judicial attention to family and succession matters.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Judiciary and FIDA Uganda to strengthening access to justice through strategic partnerships, legal empowerment and justice sector reforms that respond to the needs of Uganda’s most vulnerable populations.
