Who We Are

1999 — Launch of JLOS

• JLOS is officially launched, bringing together 10 public institutions to jointly improve access to justice, strengthen the rule of law, and enhance accountability.
• The Chain-Linked Initiative is introduced, laying the foundation for coordinated justice delivery.

2001 — Strategic Investment Plan I (SIP I) Begins

• Implementation of SIP I (2001–2005/06).
• Reform efforts prioritize:
  • Criminal justice
  • Commercial justice
• Focus areas include law reform, efficiency, access to justice, and quality service delivery.

2006 — SIP II and UHRC Integration

• Launch of Strategic Investment Plan II (SIP II) (2006/07–2012/13), strengthening sector-wide planning, budgeting, and monitoring.
• JLOS membership expands from 10 to 17 key institutions, including the Judiciary, DPP, Police, Prisons, URSB, UHRC, and others.
• Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is officially integrated into JLOS, enhancing human rights enforcement across the sector.

2011 — Introduction of the Small Claims Procedure (SCP)

• SCP pilot begins in courts such as Mengo, Masaka, Kabale, Mbale, Lira, and Arua.
• Designed to offer affordable, speedy justice for claims up to UGX 10 million without a lawyer.

2012 — Launch of Strategic Investment Plan III (SIP III)

• SIP III (2012/13–2016/17) focuses on:
  • Boosting public confidence in the justice system
  • Strengthening human rights protection
  • Expanding access to frontline JLOS services
  • Reducing case backlog

2013 — National Rollout of the Small Claims Procedure

• SCP expands to seven more Chief Magistrates Courts: Nakawa, Makindye, Nabweru, Jinja, Mbarara, Entebbe, and Luwero.
• Case disposal rates rise significantly due to faster turnaround times.

2014 — Judicial Performance and Human Rights Improvements

• Judicial milestones include:
  • 90% disposal rate for registered cases
  • 41.4% of total system cases resolved
• Uganda Police is ranked 95th globally and 20th in Africa for reliability (2014 Global Competitiveness Report).
• Human rights protections advance:
  • 30.7% of police regions have functional human rights desks
  • 84.7% of prison units have active human rights committees

2015 — Major Sector-Wide Advancements

Access to Justice in Prisons

• Uganda Prisons Service achieves:
  • 100% court attendance by prisoners
  • 62.7% elimination of the “night bucket system”
• Plea Bargaining expands, reducing backlog and remand times.

Small Claims Procedure Growth

• SCP extended to 15 more Chief Magistrates Courts.
• SCP disposal rate reaches 69%, outperforming national court average (46%).

Community Policing Strengthened

• JLOS supports nationwide Community Policing.
• Makindye Division emerges as a national model for youth engagement and violence prevention.

Juvenile Justice System Strengthened

• Focus areas include:
  • Separate juvenile files
  • Fast-tracked children’s cases
  • State attorney/legal aid representation
  • Juvenile plea bargaining
• Remand homes such as Naguru and Kampiringisa improve vocational, psychosocial, and rehabilitation support.

National JLOS Presence

• JLOS district coverage reaches 84 districts (75% national coverage).
• Expanded access to frontline justice services.

2016 — Alignment with National Development Priorities

• JLOS aligns fully with national development frameworks.
• Strengthened program-based planning and performance management.
• Focus on improving justice service delivery, security, and rule of law.

2017 — Expansion of People-Centered Justice

• Greater emphasis on vulnerable populations’ justice needs.
• Strengthened legal services and community-level justice mechanisms.
• Continued reforms to improve institutional responsiveness and efficiency.

2018 — Advancing Efficiency and Modernization

• Efforts intensify to reduce delays and enhance public trust.
• Early digital transformation initiatives begin across sector institutions.
• Infrastructure improvements widen access to justice services.

2019 — Strengthening Case Management and Collaboration

• Improved case management systems across the Judiciary and other institutions.
• Increased inter-agency cooperation enhances transparency and efficiency.
• Continued commitment to human rights, access, and accountability.

2020 — Resilience Amid National Disruptions

• JLOS maintains continuity of justice services during disruptions.
• Resilience efforts drive integration of digital systems.
• Continued commitment to safety, security, and timely justice.

2021 — Digital Transformation Accelerates

• Wide-scale digitization across Judiciary, Police, Prisons, and Immigration.
• Better system integration enhances data sharing and informed decision-making.
• Improved access to justice through modernized service delivery.

2022 — Strengthening Infrastructure and Service Standards

• Increased investments in physical and service-delivery infrastructure.
• Broader regional access to justice services.
• Focus on governance, accountability, and public trust.

2023 — Enhancing Access and Sector Transformation

• Deeper collaboration among JLOS institutions strengthens service delivery.
• Human rights protection, commercial justice, and legal frameworks improve.
• Infrastructure upgrades and reform coordination drive sector growth.

2024 — Delivering People-Centered, Transformational Justice

• JLOS emphasizes people-centered justice aligned to national transformation goals.
• District-level presence and infrastructure expansion improve access.
• Strengthened policy development and institutional capacity-building.
• Enhanced inter-agency collaboration boosts justice reliability and accessibility.