ARUA DISTRICT AND LASPNET SIGN MOU FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF 3 YEARS CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM

Dr. Sylvia Namubiru –Left, CEO LASPNET and Jimmy Alli (Second L, ACAO Arua sign the MOU as Edward Endraa(masked) the DCDO and Alfred Okuonzi the District Chaiperson look on. PHOTO BY GODWIN ABEDICAN
 
By Godwin Abedican

Arua 

Arua district and the Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET) a national member of the non-governmental organisations established in 2004 that provide strategic linkages and a collaborative framework for various non-state Legal Aid Service Providers (LASPs) have signed a memorandum of understanding as a symbol of cementing a collaboration and a guided document for the implementation of a 3 years program aimed at crime prevention and criminal justice.  

This marks the official launch and commencement of the Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program 2022-2027 in Uganda for the district.

LASPNET entered an agreement with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Uganda (UNODC) in 2023 and received funding from UNODC to support the implementation of a five years program that runs in the country until December 31, 2027.

Dr. Sylvia Namubiru, the Chief Executive Officer LASPNET stressed the need for transparency in the program undertaking. “I commit on behalf of all the partners that are part of this program to do our best and what we can with the minimum resources that we have been given. We commit to being transparency, effectiveness and efficiency in undertaking the program of (strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice in Uganda). We look forward that after the 3 years, we shall come back and celebrate the success,” Dr. Namubiru promised, after penning her signature on the MOU.

The launch of the program which is anchored under the pillars of UNODCs regional sub programs on crime prevention and criminal justice comes following an introductory visit conducted by  LASPNET between from November 22 and 23, 2023, to purposely introduce the program to stakeholders in Masindi, Hoima, Kagadi, Kibaale, Kakumiro, Mubende, Kassanda, Kabarole, Kabale, Mbarara, Jinja, Iganga, Mbale, Tororo, Moroto, Lira, Adjumani, Yumbe and Arua.

Arua happens to be one of the districts that expressed readiness to fast truck the conducting of the inception meetings aimed at briefing and officially launching the UNODC program to the wider district stakeholders.

Jimmy Alli, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Arua, during the signing the agreement says as the head of technical staff, they are committed towards ensuring the success of the project.

“This is a commitment with the partners that together we shall bring change among the people of Arua district. This is our document and we must work hard to ensure that we bring positive change in the community of Arua district within the program timeline of 3 years. Its not a responsibility of one person, but we need to throw all our efforts behind this, with the support from the partners to ensure that, this program attains total success, so that we can reduce crime and increase access to justice for our people,” he urged.

Elizabeth Aliano board representative LASPNET Northern Uganda (L)
claps as Dr. Sylvia Namubiru (C) CEO LASPNET and Jimmy Alli (R)
(ACAO) Arua exchange the signed documents. PHOTO BY GODWIN ABEDICAN

The broader outcome indicator that LASPNET and the other partners contribute to under this programs is the increased access to quality legal aid services for vulnerable groups particularly prisoners, ex-prisoners and the community.

Jawoko Denis Okway, the deputy RDC Arua acknowledges a number of crimes in the district that the project will help to minimize. “As Arua district, it is a blessing for us to launch this program, so that the next time we meet after 3 years, we shall be giving our success stories from Arua district. We as a district have been battling with a number of crimes. We have high rates of teenage pregnancies, high cases of school dropouts, so many cases of mob justice in our community and others, something which we feel this program will help us not only fight but reduce completely. As Central Government, our position and commitment to ensuring that we have a very conducive environment where all of us can operate freely has never changed and we shall provide the same for the success of this program in the next three years,” Jawoko said.

The program aims at strengthening the criminal justice system and ability to respond to organized and related threats through 4 interrelated out comes which include, strengthening mechanisms for court administration and case management, increasing access to quality legal aid services for vulnerable groups, promoting of alternative to imprisonment , crime prevention among the youth, prevention of violet extremism and the protection of the economy of Uganda from illicit financial flows and money laundering.

This program is expected to close on December 31, 2027 in all the implementing district.