YUMBE — The Ministry of Local Government, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, has equipped 50 Model Local Council Courts (LCCs) across five districts to strengthen access to justice at community level.
The equipment and essential toolkits were handed over during an official launch in Yumbe District, with the intervention targeting Local Council Courts in Yumbe, Gulu, Oyam, Nebbi and Madi-Okollo.
The initiative is aimed at improving case handling, record keeping and accountability while enhancing access to justice, particularly for women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
Representatives from the five beneficiary districts are participating in the handover and providing updates on the distribution, utilisation and safeguarding of the equipment.
The Ministry has emphasised the need to ensure that the equipment reaches the intended courts, is properly maintained and is used for its intended purpose.
According to the Ministry, the intervention seeks to address some of the practical challenges faced by Local Council Courts by providing them with the tools required to perform their justice-related functions more effectively.
Alongside the equipment distribution, the Ministry is also strengthening the capacity of selected Local Council Courts through targeted training.
Fifteen LCCs will receive training in areas including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), case management and referral, record keeping, access to justice and accountability.
Following the launch in Yumbe, Ministry teams will conduct two-day training sessions across the five districts, reaching approximately 190 participants.
The combined intervention is expected to improve the operational capacity of Local Council Courts while strengthening accountability and proper management of the equipment.
Local Council Courts play an important role as a first point of access to justice for many communities, particularly people who may face financial, geographical or other barriers to accessing formal justice institutions.
The equipment support under the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 therefore represents an investment in strengthening community-level justice mechanisms and improving access to justice for vulnerable groups.
