By KT Reporter
The Justice Law and Order Sector has called for a renewed partnership between the media and Uganda’s justice institutions to build a coherent, factual and people-centred national justice reform narrative.
Senior Technical Advisor for the Governance and Security Program which brings together 32 government institutions, departments and Agencies under the Justice Law and Sector Rachael Odoi-Musoke made the remarks on Thursday at the JLOS Media Engagement Workshop in Kampala where journalists, justice sector leaders and development partners gathered to discuss how the justice system can better communicate its progress to the public.
Odoi-Musoke told participants that the justice system’s reforms over the past 25 years will only be meaningful if citizens understand them. She said the media plays a central role in shaping public perceptions of justice, especially because most people encounter the justice system only during moments of frustration such as delays, remand challenges or disputes.
She emphasized that Uganda’s justice institutions have undergone far-reaching transformation, evolving from under-resourced departments into coordinated institutions with digital systems, stronger strategies and measurable achievements. The technical adviser attributed much of this progress to sustained government support and steady contributions from development partners, particularly the Austrian Embassy, which she said has been one of the most consistent supporters of the Justice, Law and Order Sector for more than two decades.
Odoi-Musoke revealed several reforms that have reshaped the justice landscape. These include the digitisation of justice services, reforms in child justice, improved human rights protections, community policing initiatives, and commercial justice reforms that have simplified business registration and strengthened property rights. She noted that these reforms have improved service delivery while creating a more predictable investment climate.
However, she said many of these achievements remain untold, because positive developments rarely dominate headlines in the media . She urged journalists to work closely with justice institutions to unpack legal concept such as case backlog, bail, remand, torture and human rights so that the public can better understand how the justice system works and how to access it.
Austria’s Head of Development Cooperation, Dr. Katja Kerschbaumer, reaffirmed Austria’s commitment to Uganda’s justice reform agenda. She praised JLOS as one of Uganda’s most successful reform programmes, saying Austria’s long-term investment reflects its strong belief that rule of law, accountability and human rights are essential foundations for stability and inclusive development.
Kerschbaumer noted that Austria has supported justice reforms for more than 30 years, including predictable annual funding to JLOS since 2002. She said while Uganda has recorded significant achievements in areas such as access to justice, human rights and commercial justice, these successes must be communicated more widely to build public trust. She said Austria’s support to the JLOS Media Tour aims to document reforms across the country, correct misconceptions and strengthen transparency.
She reaffirmed Austria’s priority areas for Uganda, including reducing case backlog, addressing pre-trial detention challenges, expanding access to legal aid and supporting transitional justice in post-conflict regions.
On the correctional services perspective, Assistant Commissioner of Prisons Moses Ssentalo said increased coordination within JLOS has helped break long-standing barriers between prisons officers, prosecutors, civil society organisations and human rights bodies.
Ssentalo recalled the times when prison officers avoided visits from the Uganda Human Rights Commission or NGOs, but said that engagement and trust have improved significantly through structured collaboration. Sentalo gave examples such as annual football matches between prisons and organisations like the African Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims, which helped prison staff interact more openly with rights defenders.
He also addressed persistent misconceptions about Kitalya Mini-Max Prison, explaining that it served as the only national admission facility during COVID-19 strictly for health reasons, but its role was wrongly interpreted as politically motivated. He said the misunderstanding underscored the need for continuous engagement with journalists and encouraged the media to specialise in justice reporting to improve accuracy.
Sentalo stressed that information sharing in the justice sector should prioritize public service, not sensationalism, and urged for regular dialogue between government institutions and reporters.
The workshop brought together media practitioners, justice sector leaders including officials from the office of the Directror of Public Prosecutions led by Chief State Attorney Jacquelyn Okui and Irene Nakimbugwe the Deputy Public Relations Officer. It is expected to strengthen cooperation and build a clearer, more accurate national narrative on justice reform.
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