Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka wants the National Legal Aid Bill, 2022 withdrawn citing huge financial implications for the government. He informed parliament’s legal committee that it will cost the government over 47bn to implement this bill once passed into law.
But the mover of the Bill Sailas Aogon has rebuked the government’s position saying it was based on assumptions.
In September last year, parliament cleared the Kumi Municipality legislator Sailas Aogon to move THE NATIONAL LEGAL AID BILL, 2022 after securing a certificate of financial implication from the ministry of finance.
However, along the way the government has changed its mind about the Bill on grounds that it has a huge charge on the consolidated fund, appearing before the parliamentary committee of legal affairs. Attorney general Kiryowa Kiwanuka told the parliamentary committee that there were some clauses that were imported into this bill after being flagged off by the ministry of finance which make it expensive for the side of the government to implement it.
Kiwanuka referred the committee to a study that was carried out by the Justice Law and Order Sector in 2019 which revealed that the government will need a total of 47bn shillings to implement the Bill once it’s passed into law. He explains that the bill calls for the establishment of a secretariat for the legal aid center, and the recruitment of field officers among other expensive logistics.
The bill seeks to facilitate access to legal representation for poor and vulnerable accused persons by expanding the meaning of legal aid beyond merely providing counsel. Although the mover indicates that legal aid services will be funded by development partners, Kiwanuka says this is not sustainable citing cases where government programs are started on donor support and later suffocate after development partners pull out.
By practice, it’s a monopoly of the government to move bills that have a financial implication on the government but not private members. Kiwanuka asked the Legal Affairs Committee Chaired by the Gomba West Legislator Robina Rwakojo of the need to withdraw the bill citing its negative implication on other laws like the advocate act and others that provide for similar services in form of pro bono.
However, Aogon who was present in the harmonization meeting irked at the Attorney general‘s prayers to withdraw the bill, saying it’s uncalled for. Aogon also rebuked claims of heavy financial implications for the government
The Bill also seeks to ensure that legal aid is prompt and effective, free and voluntary, and accessible by all persons regardless of age, race, color, gender, language, religion or belief, political or other opinions, and social status.
