FIDA Uganda Advocates for Enactment of National Legal & Witness Protection Bills as it Recovers UGX 740 Million-Report

Kampala, Uganda — September 2025
FIDA Uganda ,a legal Clinic in Uganda offering Probono services to most vulnerable Ugandans seeking Justice but cannot access and afford to pay for it has recovered over UGX 740 million in maintenance and compensation cases in 2024, according to its latest Annual Report presented during the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Kazo mixed day and boarding primary school in Nansana Wakiso District

The report, delivered by Justice Susan Okalany, Chairperson of the FIDA-Uganda Board and High Court Judge, reflects the organisation’s continued commitment to delivering holistic legal aid and promoting access to justice for Uganda’s most vulnerable populations.

In total, 21,913 clients received legal aid services—15,702 women and 6,211 men—highlighting the organisation’s focus on gender-responsive justice.

“Maintenance, domestic violence, land disputes, child neglect, and abandonment remain the most frequently reported cases,” Justice Okalany stated.

                                                       “Women continue to bear the brunt of  injustices, underscoring the urgent need for their economic empowerment to enhance their independence and resilience.”

Key Statistics from the 2024 Annual report indicate that:

UGX 740,279,100 recovered in maintenance and compensation

UGX 33 million in property reclaimed

13,692 cases handled by Community Legal Volunteers (CLVs)

526 clients (420 women, 106 men) received psychosocial support

Legal awareness raised among 34,723 people (22,109 women; 12,614 men)

2,502 persons with disabilities, 916 refugees, and 527 children in contact with the law reached.

Key Figures
The gender breakdown of reported cases continues to reflect structural inequalities:

Domestic Violence: 2,176 female, 417 male clients

Maintenance: 3,577 female, 73 male

Land Disputes: 1,505 female, 1,158 male

Child Neglect & Abandonment: 1,019 female, 275 male

Family Disputes: 743 female, 275 male

FIDA Uganda’s comprehensive approach includes legal representation, mediation, and community outreach, aimed at both resolving disputes and preventing rights violations.

In her remarks, Liliane Byarugaba Adriko, CEO of FIDA Uganda, issued a passionate call for the enactment of the National Legal Aid Bill and the Witness Protection Bill.

Why it Matters. “Legal aid is not just a service—it’s a powerful tool for economic transformation,” Adriko emphasized. “We must empower our citizens to assert their rights. These laws will help institutionalize legal aid and protect witnesses, especially in gender-based violence cases where intimidation is common.”

She noted that civil society and donor-funded organizations currently bear the weight of legal aid provision—a model that is increasingly vulnerable due to shifting global geopolitics and reduced donor funding.

Justice Okalany also stressed FIDA’s commitment to institutional resilience through:

Exploring acquisition of a Legal Aid House to cut long-term rental costs

Enhancing staff safety, especially in regional offices

Strengthening risk management ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections

Deepening digital transformation via an Integrated Information Management System (IIMS)

Promoting staff well-being and internal governance reforms

In a spirited appeal, she called on members and stakeholders to support efforts to acquire a permanent home for FIDA’s operations, describing it as a “strategic investment”.

“We are debating. We are praying. We are fasting,” she said. “We need to get that legal aid house—it’s right next to the property we already own. This is about ensuring long-term sustainability.”

FIDA Uganda’s AGM was held alongside a free legal aid camp, echoing its founding mission to serve communities directly. Services included case registration, legal consultations, and mediation.

“We were birthed in communities, and it’s only fitting that we return to them,” Adriko said. “There is no better way to honor our founders than to continue this grassroots work.”

FIDA was established in 1974 by pioneering Ugandan lawyers to serve women and marginalized groups through legal aid and advocacy.

With growing influence in the judiciary and strong partnerships with the Uganda Law Society, Justice Centers Uganda, and others, FIDA Uganda is positioning itself as a pillar of justice delivery in Uganda.

But its leadership is clear: long-term impact requires government support, policy change, and sustainable funding.

“An unempowered citizenry is vulnerable to violation,” said Adriko. “Now more than ever, Uganda needs to institutionalize and finance legal aid as a fundamental right—not a privilege.”