Services & Information
A collection of essential public services, legal support pathways, and justice sector information accessible to all citizens.
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ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
ADR-Summit 2024-The African Chief Justices’ summit for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
NATIONAL ID PROJECT
The Mandate of NIRA is to create, manage, maintain & operationeralise the National Identification Register by registering all citizens of Uganda, registering non-citizens of Uganda who are lawfully residents in Uganda, registering births and deaths, assigning a unique National Identification Number to every person registered.
JUSTICE CENTERS
Justice Centres Uganda (JCU) is a Government Project of the Justice, Law and Order Sector hosted and supervised by the Judiciary of Uganda. JCU was established in 2009 to provide free legal services to the poor, vulnerable and marginalised individuals and communities of Uganda to realise their rights.
The JCU Model seeks to empower vulnerable communities through provision of quality human rights based legal aid services, community outreaches and advocacy to claim their rights and demand for policy and social change. JCU reaches out to hard-to-reach areas where little or no resources for constructive dispute resolution are available.
BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGES
Registration of civil events is essential for establishing legal identity, citizenship status, and accurate national records. In Uganda, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is the sole government body mandated to register and issue official certificates for births, deaths, and marriages nationwide. This function supports citizens in accessing services such as passports, education, healthcare, inheritance processes, and other legal documentation. By maintaining a centralized civil registration and vital statistics system, NIRA enhances national planning, population management, and legal identity protection for all persons in Uganda.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Uganda promotes human rights through constitutionally established bodies and statutory mechanisms. The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) investigates human rights violations, carries out inspections of detention facilities, and conducts public education on rights and freedoms. The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) complements this by addressing discrimination and ensuring fair access to public services and opportunities regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Together, these institutions promote accountability and uphold constitutional protections.
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
SMALL CLAIM PROCEDURES
Small Claims Procedures enable citizens to resolve civil disputes involving low monetary values without requiring lawyers, making justice accessible and affordable. These claims are handled within the Judiciary through Magistrates’ Courts, where the process is quick, user-friendly, and decisions are enforceable. Typical small claims include disputes over debts, goods sold, and unpaid services. This mechanism reduces pressure on higher courts while giving individuals timely justice.
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
NCIC Institutional Mandate
The National Citizenship and Immigration Control (Formerly the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control) is established by the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, 2006. Section 8 of the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, Chapter 66 of the Laws of Uganda, established the Office of Commissioner for Immigration to function as the Secretariat of the National Citizenship and Immigration Control Board (NCIB), which was established by Article 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995. The Act of 2006 amended Cap 66 to transform the Office of Commissioner for Immigration established by that Act into the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control.
- Functions of NCIC
- As the Secretariat of the Board, NCIC is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Board and assisting the Board to carry out the following functions::
- issuing Uganda passports and other travel documents;
- granting and cancelling citizenship by registration and naturalisation;
- granting and cancelling immigration permits;
- determining any questions which may arise in the implementation of the Act or any questions which may be referred to it by the Minister;
- performing such other functions as may be assigned to it by or under the Act or any other enactment; and
- performing any other function determined by the Minister.
- As the Secretariat of the Board, NCIC is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Board and assisting the Board to carry out the following functions::
NCIC is therefore responsible for implementing and enforcing the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act and related immigration laws and policies adopted by the Board and the Government of Uganda.
- Departments
NCIC is headed by the Director for Citizenship and Immigration Control and comprises of three major departments each headed by a Commissioner.
- Department of Borders and Foreign Nationals Management: The Department of Immigration control is headed by Col. Geoffrey Brian Kambere. It’s responsible for border management and issuance of immigration facilities to foreign nationals seeking to work and reside in Uganda.
- Department of Citizenship and Passports Management: The Department of Citizenship and Passports Control is headed by Brig. Johnson Namanya Abaho. It’s responsible for verification and processing of Uganda Citizenship as well as the administration of national travel documents
- Department of Inspection and Compliance: The Department of Inspection and Legal services is headed by Dr. Josephine Ekwang Ali. It’s responsible for legal advisory services, inspection, investigations, prosecution and removal of undesirable immigrants from Uganda.
- Services Offered
- Border management (facilitation and regulation)
- Processing and issuing of visas, passes and residence Permits
- Processing and issuing national and regional travel documents
- Inspection, investigation prosecution and removal of illegal immigrants
- Verifying and processing Ugandan citizenship
- Collection of Non Tax Revenue.
LEGISLATION
The Parliament of Uganda derives its mandate and functions from the 1995 Constitution, the Laws of Uganda and its own Rules of Procedure.
The Constitution contains articles which provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the Parliament of Uganda and empowers Parliament “to make laws on any matter for the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda”, and “to protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance in Uganda”.
The term of Parliament is five years from the date of its first sitting after a general election. The current Parliament (11th Parliament) started in May 2021 and ends in May 2026.
Our Vision: A transformed, independent and people-centred Parliament.
Our Mission: To achieve improved accountability, representation, democracy and good governance for better quality of life of all Ugandans.
The functions of the Parliament of Uganda are:
- To pass laws for the good governance of Uganda.
- To provide, by giving legislative sanctions to taxation and acquisition of loans, the means of carrying out the work of Government.
- To scrutinise Government policy and administration through the following:
- Pre-legislative scrutiny of Bills referred to Committees of Parliament;
- Scrutinising of the various objects of expenditure and the sums to be spent on each;
- Ensuring transparency and accountability in the application of public funds; and
- Monitoring the implementation of Government programmes and projects.
LEGAL AID
Legal aid services provide assistance to individuals who cannot afford lawyers, especially in criminal and family matters. State-supported legal aid is primarily offered through Justice Centres Uganda and the courts. Civil society organizations also contribute significantly, including the Uganda Law Society through its pro-bono program, and FIDA Uganda which focuses on women and children. These organizations provide representation, counseling, and legal education to vulnerable populations, promoting fairness in the justice system.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Community service is used as an alternative to imprisonment for minor offenders to reduce congestion in prisons and promote rehabilitation. It is overseen by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in partnership with local governments and probation offices. Offenders contribute unpaid work to the community such as cleaning, environmental maintenance, and public facility support. This approach helps offenders remain integrated in society while reducing state costs associated with imprisonment.
ANTI CORRUPTION
Anti-corruption efforts in Uganda involve a network of institutions that prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption. The Inspectorate of Government (IG) is the principal agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting corrupt officials. The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) also prosecutes criminal corruption cases, while the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court handles corruption trials. The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) ensures transparency in government procurement, and agencies like the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) support civil society monitoring. These bodies collectively strengthen accountability in public affairs.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) ensures that government programs achieve intended results. Within the justice sector, JLOS has built M&E systems that track performance, service delivery, and reform progress across member institutions. Parliament also exercises oversight through committees such as the Public Accounts Committee, which examines how public funds are spent. Additionally, anti-corruption strategies integrate M&E to assess progress in reducing fraud and misuse of authority. The overall aim is to promote transparency, efficiency, and continuous improvement in public service.