Refugees in Uganda can hardly access justice.

A South Sudanese refugee woman, in Bidibidi refugee settlement, dresses her hut using soft black mud. Picture by Ochan Hannington | 23 Feb 2019

Many South Sudanese, who poured into Northern districts of Uganda where they sought safety, after fleeing violent conflict, get entangled in legal issues. But accessing justice is proving difficult for majority. Ugandan traditional courts of law, usually situated in big towns, are not ideal to handle cases of refugees, most of whom living in remote settlements. So “Mobile courts” were adopted. But nowadays the “mobile courts” can hardly reach the population. The Justice Law and Order Sector, a public agency (JLOS,) cites insufficient funds as the biggest problem hampering the work of “Mobile courts”. The courts’ backlog of work, needing to be cleared, is increasing everyday. So many refugees may never get a chance for a hearing; if the situation remains, according to JLOS. Edna Piyic followed the story.