Increasing people’s awareness of their legal rights and the services available to them is key to ensuring access to justice for all.
In September and November 2024, IDLO supported Uganda’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in hosting ODPP “Open Days” in the cities of Kabale and Gulu.
The initiative, which drew more than 400 people, was part of IDLO’s Community Justice Programme, supported by the Government of Sweden. It aims to secure accessible, quality and sustainable justice services for citizens, particularly those living in rural, poor or otherwise disadvantaged communities.
In providing spaces where members of the public could freely interact with ODPP staff in an informal setting, the Open Days serve as an accountability platform, promoting transparency and fostering collaboration between different justice stakeholders.
Attendees had the opportunity to ask general questions about their rights and the justice services available to them, as well as to follow up on specific legal complaints filed with the ODPP.
Actors from across Uganda's justice chain, including the judiciary, the police force and the prison service, along with local officials and legal aid service providers, were also on hand to field questions related to their jurisdictions.
In each city, the Open Days kicked off with an awareness session featuring a radio talk show discussion with Uganda’s Director of Public Prosecutions, the Honourable Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, or her Deputy, Mr. Odumbi James Owere.