Legal aid advocates have renewed pressure on the government to urgently pass the long-delayed National Legal Aid Bill, warning that millions of Ugandans, especially the poor and vulnerable, continue to face injustice simply because they cannot afford a lawyer.
This renewed push came during a stakeholder engagement in Kampala, where the Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET) joined the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and other actors to demand immediate action on the Bill that has stalled for years.
LASPNET Executive Director Sylvia Namubiru said Uganda’s justice system still overwhelmingly favours those with financial means, leaving nearly 80 percent of citizens without access to legal support.
‘Justice is not a privilege for the rich; it is a constitutional right, and without a government-funded legal aid system, millions of Ugandans remain excluded. We need this Bill passed now,’ Ms Namubiru said.
She noted that although civil society and volunteer lawyers continue to provide support, the current approach, largely dependent on donor funding, is neither stable nor sustainable.
‘A strong state-funded legal aid scheme is the only guarantee that justice will reach the poorest Ugandans. People should not rely on foreign donations to solve local justice problems,’ she added.
Ms Namubiru also criticised the technical objections that have delayed the Bill.
‘There was broad support for this Bill from civil society, faith-based institutions and legal aid providers, and a technicality should not be the reason people remain unprotected,’ she said.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) Vice President Anthony Asiimwe echoed the concerns, warning that the country’s legal needs far exceed the capacity of volunteer and low-cost legal practitioners.
‘Only 20 percent of Ugandans can afford legal fees. That should worry the nation. A constitutional right is meaningless if people cannot afford representation,’ he said.
Mr Asiimwe urged lawyers across the country to rally behind LASPNET’s advocacy and expand pro-bono services as Parliament continues to delay.
‘This is our opportunity to give back because many Ugandans cannot walk into a law office and pay. It’s our duty to support them,’ he said.
He added that passing the Bill would expand nationwide access to legal aid, regulate and accredit service providers, strengthen pro-bono work, reduce case backlog through early representation, and increase legal protection for women, children, and rural communities.
Why the national legal aid bill stalled
The Bill, originally tabled as a Private Member’s Bill, had already secured a Certificate of Financial Implication, indicating readiness for passage.
However, Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee halted its progress after the Attorney General advised that several clauses would impose financial obligations on government, contrary to Article 93 of the Constitution, which bars Private Members from introducing Bills with spending implications.
Research by HiiL (2016, 2020, 2024) shows that 80 percent of Ugandans experience legal problems, mostly related to land disputes, domestic violence, family conflicts and criminal matters, further underscoring the urgent need for a legal aid framework.
Access to justice run
At the same event, LASPNET and ULS unveiled the Access to Justice (A2J) Run 2025, scheduled for November 29, 2025, at the Law Development Centre grounds in Makerere.
The event,a fundraising drive for the proposed Legal Aid House, will feature 3km, 5km and 10km routes, alongside a Legal Aid Open Day and a sports and fun event for lawyers.
Over 5,000 participants are expected, with Buganda Kingdom Minister of Lands and Properties, David F.K. Mpanga, serving as Chief Runner.