Sustainable development strategies for takeoff to a middle income Uganda as a poor state
Introduction
Muslim Centre for Justice and Law (MCJL) innovated ICT access to justice platforms. These include the Mobile phone Access to Justice Application (eLaw Uganda) and The SMS Mobile Phone Access to Justice Platform and for the last ten months over 1,700 people have benefitted from the two platforms.
1. The Mobile phone Access to Justice Application (eLaw Uganda)
The application has a simple user friendly layout that runs on an android platform and facilitates easy navigation of the interface with readable font sizes as well as web-safe eye colours so that visitors and users can read the content easily. The tool has an effective navigation that allows visitors and users to find what they are looking for quickly and easily. Information in the mobile application was organised into categories. These categories were further sub-divided into sections. A user clicks on a category like ‘family law’ and reads information on ‘valid marriage’ ‘how to handle divorce’ et al.
The mobile application dubbed ‘elaw Uganda’ can be down loaded from google play free of charge. ‘elaw Uganda’ is user friendly and includes a search module; this aids the user to look up information without necessarily clicking on categories or sections.
The application simplifies access to legal information for the poor and vulnerable people in Uganda. The ICT innovations aim at meeting the current demands of the world, resulting from a period of rapid change, driven by technology. Reflecting on the progress of ICT from a global perspective, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) indicators are remarkable! Since 2010, the proportion of the population in developing countries with access to fixed or mobile telephone has reached 70%; and more than 20% of the populations of developing countries are internet users.The themes under this include Civil and criminal Law, Chapter 4 of the constitution of Uganda among others.
2. The SMS Mobile Phone Access to Justice Platform
The SMS platform was developed as a tool which enhances access to justice through ICT (using basic phones) as an automated interaction between our data bases and mobile users seeking pertinent information regarding access to justice. The SMS platform can be accessed when you SMS a text message (legal question); write and send your question E.g. ‘bail’ to (+256)758991422 and get quick and appropriate feedback. The SMS platform is an automated system that responds to requests automatically. The SMS platform has key contacts for legal aid service providers and police, including District Police Commanders (DPCs) in case of seeking for legal services.
This has helped the communities to enhance access legal information; hence faster resolution of cases on child custody, inheritance, marriage and divorce issues through ADR.
The utilisation of these ICT innovations is beneficial in the following ways:-
•Easy access to relevant legal information by paralegal sheiks, LCs, police for legal advice to clients. Also other people can equally access it for quick legal information.
•Increased access to legal pathways in the JLOs structure which promotes referrals.
•Creation of synergies and linkages between informal structures like the Qadhi courts and formal institutions.
• Improved access to justice and legal protection of Muslim communities especially among vulnerable people.
• Reduction in the case load at higher levels like Magistrate courts, High court since most of the cases will be easily resolved through Lower level courts and others provided with appropriate legal advice.
• Improved awareness about the required evidence e.g. PF3
Prepared by: Sulaiman Kafeero, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, tel. +256712810537