Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS)

08 feb 2010

The overall objective in JLOS is to increase professionalism in administration of justice and maintenance of law and order. This will be achieved by strengthening the capacity of post-secondary education and training institutes to offer quality gender-sensitive education and training or to do relevant research.

Current status

The performance of the JLOS sector is currently hampered by poor capacity and a low level of professionalism. The long-term objectives of the projects that will be implemented in this sector are to improve institutional service delivery, to ensure that human rights are respected, to offer equal access to justice and, finally, to reduce the poverty level.

Within the JLOS sector NICHE will focus on two specific objectives:

  1. to enhance evidence-based planning, budgeting and M&E;
  2. to develop and/or improve training opportunities that are gender-sensitive, labour market oriented and adequately meet the training needs of the sector. 

Objective 1: Benchmark of the present status

JLOS institutions have limited capacity to plan, budget and monitor based on evidenced needs and objectives.
 

Medium Term Outcome(s) - 4 years

Sustainable capacity has been built at the local level enabling adequate capacitating of participating JLOS institutions in the areas of planning, budgeting and M&E.
 

Objective 2: Benchmark of the present status

  • Strengthening of schools through NPT shows positive results, yet a lot remains to be done. Follow-up support through NICHE will help consolidate the present achievements. Training programmes need to be expanded and the whole strengthening process needs to be sustained.
  • The link between JLOS and the social sector is weak, resulting in poor family justice to which women and children are most exposed.
  • JLOS staff's limited knowledge of social development issues impacts their day-to-day focus on crime prevention and rehabilitation/reintegration.
  • There is an overall lack of focus on social justice issues in the sector.
  • Over 80% of the population first resort to local council courts (LCCs) or traditional justice mechanisms to resolve disputes within communities.
  • Officers/persons handling legal issues and disputes in the “informal sector” (e.g. paralegals, LCCs and traditional leaders) usually do so without any required training on basic legal matters.
  • Insufficient forensic expertise is a bottleneck in improving criminal justice.
  • Various aspects of forensic cannot be taught in Uganda.
  • There is no specific sector-wide focus on human resource issues.
  • There is a lack of attention to labour market and gender-specific needs.
  • There is a lack of coordination between institutions on human resource issues.

Medium Term Outcome(s) - 4 years

  • Specialized training has been developed and implemented.
  • Distance learning has been introduced to cater for staff based in the countryside.
  • Training facilities have been further improved.
  • Sustainable capacity has been built to enable training of JLOS staff in social development issues as well as training of paralegals in basic legal matters.
  • Social development issues are incorporated in the curricula of relevant JLOS training institutions.
  • The capacity to train in various forensic disciplines and at various levels is adequately built.
  • Many forensic experts are being trained locally.
  • A sector-wide approach to human resource issues has been developed.
  • Coordination between institutions on human resource issues has improved.
  • There is more attention to labour market needs and gender-specific needs.
  • Staff receive gender-sensitive training.
  • More women are recruited and promoted.

Longer Term Outcome(s) - 8 years

  • Comprehensive human resource policies have been put in place (linking management with development).
  • Quality staff is adequately trained and re-trained.
  • Coordination between institutions on human resource issues has been institutionalized.
  • The gender balance has improved within JLOS institutions.
  • Women and children enjoy quality service delivery.
  • Coordination of the demand and supply of human resources has improved.
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