LEADERS IN GULU DISTRICT EMBARK ON COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Hon Simon Peter Wokorach addressing community in Cwero trading center in Paicho sub county, Gulu District.

By Odong Stephen

Gulu City

The communities in Paicho and Palaro sub counties in Gulu District have been sensitized on their rights through a legal clinic on community access to justice, organized by the area member of parliament for Aswa county in partnership with faculty of Law department of Gulu University and a team of Lawyers from different advocates in the region.
 
The event that took place last Thursday attracted quite a good number of people in attendance.
 
Counsel Judith Adong dean faculty of law Gulu university said it is very important to let the community know that there are so many alternative ways they can use to handle conflicts, but because they luck knowledge, they end up going to court and spend a lot of money on issues that should have been handled from home by the local leaders or Elderly cultural leaders.
 
“We have to understand that there is a lot of issues in the community that need to be addressed by creating awareness and, Gulu university is still going to promote its motto, “For community transformation and make sure that we enrich the whole society in Northern Uganda or in the greater North with the knowledge they require to know and understand their rights until when they realize that we have peace. If we understand what our rights are, you will know your boundary will have some limitations,” said Judith Adong.
 
The area LC3 of Paicho sub county Hon. Charles Okello said that he is very happy to see community getting the right information from the right people on community access to justice.

“This is a good initiative that allows people to interact with the lineages leanest people because, it is not easy to get a lawyer and in case you get one, you will have to pay a lot of money which is not something for the local people,” Hon Okello said.
 
Micheal Komakech, a councilor representing the people of Palaro Sub County who doubles as the Secretary Production Natural resources trade and industry requested for more of the exercise in other areas.
 
“We haven’t seen any MP who goes to parliament and come back with this kind of initiative for his community at the grassroot, God bless you Hon. Wokorach. Me and my people, we welcome this program and if this can reach to other places like Oroko or Mede village, I will be very happy,” Komakech emphasized.
 
According to Albert Okwera, a resident of Palaro Sub County, for someone to be responsible, one needs to know and understand the law and when people know the law, there shall be no mob action, no fighting each other and no unnecessary conflicts in the community, so it is very important for this kind of activities to continue. 

Meanwhile Jimmy Lukwiya a resident of Paicho Sub County believes that bringing lawyers to interact with the community will shape their mindset on how to handle content cases at the community level.
 
“Their coming has been really important to us the locals around, we all came with a lot of expectation to learn more on how the court works and many of us are asking to have the court nearer because sometimes we would like to meet lawyers so that incase, we have problems, we can settle it amicably for peace to prevail, said Lukwiya.
 
in his response, Hon. Simon Peter wokorach, the area member of parliament for Aswa county said the legal team will be moving in different sub counties after every three months to create awareness on legal issues.
 
“Anything you have not understood, please keep it, after three months come back and ask, you should know that this is part of what I am supposed to do for you. This is not politics, but if the time comes, I will come back to ask for your votes,” said Hon. Wokorach.