Judiciary Trains West Nile Justice Actors to Handle Refugee Disputes

The Ugandan Judiciary has intensified efforts to improve access to justice within refugee-hosting areas by launching a specialised training programme for regional justice actors in the West Nile sub-region. The initiative aims to enhance the adjudication of civil, criminal, and land disputes stemming from interactions between displaced populations and their host communities.

Opening the two-day workshop at La Confidentiel Hotel in Arua, Supreme Court Justice Mike Chibita noted that Uganda’s status as a major refugee-hosting nation places unique demands on its legal institutions. He highlighted that while these conflicts generally fall under standard legal frameworks, displacement introduces added complexities such as language barriers, cultural differences, and heightened vulnerabilities.

Justice Chibita, who serves as the Chairperson of the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) Governing Council, emphasized that the programme does not create a parallel justice system. Instead, it seeks to reinforce the existing judicial framework to deliver fair and independent rulings while incorporating Alternative Dispute Resolution and Alternative Justice Systems where suitable.

Statistics presented during the opening indicate that West Nile hosts over 650,000 refugees, with Yumbe District’s Bidi Bidi settlement alone accommodating more than 210,000 individuals. Similar training sessions have already been conducted in Gulu for Northern Uganda and Fort Portal for the western region. Participants drawn from districts like Yumbe, Koboko, and Moyo are expected to utilize practical insights to improve conflict resolution in their respective communities.

Read more details on the Nile Post.