Kampala, Uganda: The Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda, Dr. Flavian Zeija has engaged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in talks aimed at bolstering Uganda’s justice system through specialized reforms in wildlife, environmental, and criminal justice.
Dr. Zeija proposed the creation of a dedicated judicial division to handle wildlife and forestry cases exclusively, warning against broad mandates that could weaken focus. He cited persistent challenges in case appeals and the storage of sensitive exhibits like ivory, adding that a well-structured division with an appellate framework could be operational within a year.
The Deputy Chief Justice highlighted the plight of island residents who face costly and dangerous boat travel to access courts, compounded by high crime rates.
While the Judiciary considered providing boats, licensing setbacks stalled the plan. Dr. Zeija emphasized the need for permanent court infrastructure and consistent judicial presence to serve such remote communities effectively.
He underscored the need for specialized training for judicial officers in wildlife and forestry crimes, noting that strengthening courts near protected areas like Hoima and Bushenyi would sharpen enforcement.
In response, UNODC Head of Office Ms. Sharon Lesa Nyambe, praised the Judiciary’s collaboration with UNODC, recalling their work during the 2023 National Court Open Day. She revealed that UNODC’s Uganda mandate has expanded to include court refurbishments, video conferencing equipment, and training through the Judicial Training Institute (JTI).
Ms. Nyambe also drew attention to the nexus between organized crime, wildlife trafficking, and terrorism financing through cryptocurrency. She said a specialized multi-agency training on this emerging threat is scheduled later this year, with Judiciary involvement.
The Programs Coordinator UNODC, Ms. Alejandra Euceda, detailed plans under the EU-Uganda Forest Partnership, including refurbishing the Standards, Utilities, and Wildlife Court, procuring equipment for specialized courts, and developing a new training manual on forest crime.
On his part, Associate Program Officer Mr. Timothy Etiang updated the Judiciary on UNODC’s ongoing five-year crime prevention program, now in its third year, which covers; expanding access to justice and legal aid, promoting alternatives to imprisonment, preventing youth crime and violent extremism and combating illicit financial flows through the Financial Intelligence Authority
Through partnerships with LASPNET, Justice Defenders, and the JTI, the program continues to strengthen Uganda’s legal aid services and rehabilitation initiatives.
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