Victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in Uganda have long suffered a bitter truth: years of waiting for justice. But now, a new initiative called the Justice For Her project is going to change that. Financed by the Austrian Development Agency and implemented with the support of UN Women Uganda, the project aims to fast-track GBV cases so that the survivors can get timely and fair justice. The project was nationally launched at the Supreme Court Conference Hall in Kampala, and it is a great step towards the eradication of GBV in Uganda. The Justice For Her program will focus on institutionalizing daily GBV hearings in the Masaka and Gulu High Court Circuits, and the Nebbi Magisterial district.

What this means is that GBV cases will receive priority and be heard every day, backlogging cases and not making survivors wait for years to have their day in court. Dr. Yvonne Katja Kerschbaumer, head of the Austrian Embassy and Development Cooperation Office in Uganda, emphasized the project’s importance. “Survivors of GBV should not wait years for justice. The Justice For Her project institutionalizes daily GBV hearings, allowing timely and equitable case resolution,” she said. Dr. Katja shared a heart-wrenching story of a girl from Arua, aged eight, who battled for so long for justice, but died before her case was heard. “The Justice For Her project ensures that survivors are heard and cases are resolved without delay. No more waiting. No more impunity,” she stated. Her comments highlighted the urgency to have a system that prioritizes the rights and interests of GBV survivors. The project is a multi-stakeholder partnership involving Uganda’s justice institutions, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Uganda Police Force, the Justice Law and Order Secretariat, and the Judicial Training Institute. The institutions will jointly ensure the establishment of a more efficient and survivor-friendly system for handling GBV cases.

UN Women Programme Specialist for Women, Peace, and Security, Ms. Natacha Butorac, highlighted the impact of delays in GBV cases. “GBV cases in Uganda take on average 919 days to be disposed of. The Justice For Her project will speed up GBV case disposal and improve survivor-centered approaches,” she said. She also underscored the importance of collective effort in ending GBV, saying, “If you want to go far, go together.”

The project’s innovative intervention is the use of information technology for case management that will allow the Judiciary to identify, prioritize, and allocate GBV cases more effectively.

This will not only reduce the backlog of cases but also improve legal outcomes for survivors.

Principal Judge Flavian Zeija, who chaired a high-level meeting on the project, hailed the initiative. He pointed out the Judiciary’s commitment to introducing the time-share fast-track model for GBV cases that will have such cases handled with the urgency they deserve. The Justice For Her project is not just a legal project, but a ray of hope for the survivors of GBV in Uganda. By the provision of timely justice, the project aims to restore dignity and trust in the justice system among the survivors who have endured violence. It also sends a powerful message that impunity for GBV will no longer be tolerated. The launch of the project was attended by the key stakeholders, including Dr. Yvonne Katja Kerschbaumer, Deputy Country Representative of UN Women Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, judicial officers, top administrators from the Judiciary led by Permanent Secretary Dr. Pius Bigirimana, and other members of the justice chain. The launch was facilitated by James Ereemye, the Judiciary Public Relations Officer, who urged everyone to cooperate to make the project a success. The Justice For Her project is a giant step towards Uganda’s realization of its pledge to eliminate gender-based violence. By fast-tracking GBV cases and granting speedy justice to survivors, the project is working towards a safer and more equitable society for all. It is a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied, and that every survivor deserves to be heard and to have her case decided without unnecessary delays.

As the project rolls out in Masaka, Gulu, and Nebbi, it will most likely have a ripple effect across the country, triggering similar actions and improving the fight against GBV.

For survivors of gender-based violence, the Justice For Her project is a promise of hope, healing, and justice.

It is a testament to the power of partnership and the uncompromising commitment to leaving no one behind in access to justice.

At a time when gender-based violence remains pervasive, initiatives like the Justice For Her project are today more vital than ever. In prioritizing the rights and needs of survivors, Uganda is making a statement that its future lies in a world where justice will be a right for all and no longer a privilege for the privileged. The Justice For Her programme is a shining example of what can be achieved when governments, organizations, and communities come together to address matters of social concern. As the project continues, its impact will definitely be felt far and wide.

To the survivors of GBV, it is a lifeline, a chance to reclaim their lives and their dignity. To Uganda, it is a step towards a society where justice is swift, equitable, and accessible to all. The Justice For Her project is not just a legal program, it’s a movement for change, a promise of a brighter, more equitable tomorrow for all.