The Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi has called for a multi-stakeholder, coordinated and concerted effort to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), stressing that the fight must extend beyond courts to families, communities and other institutions.
“Sexual and gender-based violence is not simply a criminal justice issue. It is a violation of human dignity, a threat to the family, a burden on communities, and an impediment to development,” he noted.
The Deputy Chief Justice made this call while presiding over the inaugural International Association of Women Judges–Uganda Chapter (IAWJ-UC) Partners’ Event at the Supreme Court’s Conference Hall in Kampala.
The event, held under the theme *”Beyond the Bench: Partnership for Equal Justice,”* brought together judicial officers, senior administrators, various representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and members of the media.
The IAWJ-Uganda Chapter’s goal to reach 1,000 families in 1,000 communities in 1,000 days was a key focus of the event.
In his remarks, the Deputy Chief Justice described this goal as ambitious and profoundly human, noting that behind every number is a person, behind every victim is a family and behind every affected family is a community. He urged stakeholders to measure progress not only by the number of cases handled, but by the lives, families and communities transformed through collective action.
He noted that Uganda’s response to violence against women and girls is anchored in the Constitution, the Domestic Violence Act, the Penal Code Act and laws governing sexual offences, as well as international and regional commitments.
“The existence of laws is only the beginning. The true measure of justice is whether those laws work for the person who needs them,” he added.
Within the Judiciary, the Deputy Chief Justice highlighted specialized SGBV sessions conducted by the High Court and Chief Magistrate’s Courts in a number of districts. He called for these thematic and specialized criminal sessions to be strengthened and systematically cascaded from the High Court to Chief Magistrates’ Courts so that focused judicial interventions are brought closer to communities where victims live.
He also welcomed the IAWJ-UC’s emphasis on leadership and management training for Judicial Officers handling SGBV cases, gender-responsive adjudication and practical tools for vulnerable litigants.
Gender-responsive adjudication, he noted, does not mean abandoning the law or compromising judicial independence. Rather, it requires Judicial Officers to apply the law with an informed understanding of the circumstances in which gender-based violence occurs and the vulnerabilities of those appearing before court.
Justice Kazibwe also emphasized restorative justice and the need to support survivors beyond the conclusion of court proceedings. He noted that the Chapter’s programme proposes vocational and entrepreneurial skills for 1,000 SGBV victims, support to 1,000 affected families in value-chain production and a national anti-SGBV film aimed at empowering 1,000 communities to break the cycle of violence.
“These initiatives remind us that a survivor’s journey does not end when a case is disposed of. There must be space for recovery, dignity, economic resilience, and reintegration,” he noted.
Justice Kazibwe also underscored the responsibility of every actor in the justice chain, from police and prosecutors to courts, health and social services, communities, civil society and development partners. Each, he noted, has a role in investigation, prosecution, adjudication, protection, recovery and prevention.
He affirmed that the Judiciary will continue to work with the IAWJ-UC and its partners to strengthen gender-responsive adjudication, improve case management, build the capacity of Judicial Officers and bring judicial interventions closer to communities.
The success of the 1,000 families, 1,000 communities and 1,000 days initiative, he added, should ultimately be reflected in the number of victims who obtain justice, families that find relief, communities that reject violence and institutions strengthened to respond effectively to survivors.
“The fight against sexual and gender-based violence cannot be won by legislation alone, nor by courts alone. It will be won when institutions act together, when communities reject violence, when survivors are supported to rebuild their lives, and when every person who seeks justice encounters a system that responds with competence, dignity and humanity,” he said.
Speaking during the event, Hon. Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde (Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development) thanked IAWJ-UC for organizing the event and for their tireless efforts in the service of justice. He affirmed that the ministry stands ready to work with the Chapter to build a Uganda in which justice is inclusive, equitable and truly transformative.
The Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Gender’s mandate covering gender, children, women, culture, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons, community development, social protection and workers’ rights creates a natural and strategic alignment with the IAWJ-UC’s work to eliminate gender bias and strengthen justice delivery.
He also raised concern over prolonged delays in the disposal of cases, noting that they frustrate investment, undermine investor confidence and slow the competitiveness of the country. He also called for attention to the Industrial Court, proposing discussions with the Judiciary on reforms and possible benchmarking with Kenya to strengthen it.
On child protection, the Minister highlighted the role of probation and welfare officers at local government level in juvenile justice, adoption, foster care and the protection of children, stressing that family protection must remain central to the pursuit of equity and justice.
He also stressed that the Ministry of Gender remains committed to strengthening gender-responsive laws and policies, expanding social protection programmes to reduce economic vulnerability, working with the Judiciary on survivor-centred approaches in handling gender-based violence cases, promoting legal aid services and increasing community awareness to empower women to claim their rights.
He called for stronger pathways for survivors of violence, reforms to eliminate discriminatory laws, deliberate mentorship of young women in the legal profession, and greater accountability, transparency and integrity in the delivery of justice.
“Justice must never be a privilege reserved for a few. It must be a right guaranteed for all,” he said.
The Minister noted that the Government of Uganda has made deliberate and measurable progress in enhancing female representation within the Judiciary, with 356 judicial officers being women, constituting 50.85 percent of the entire cadre of judicial officers.
“These numbers are not merely statistics. They represent a powerful lever that must be deliberately harnessed to ensure equality and equity in the administration of justice and to guarantee meaningful support for vulnerable and marginalised groups in our society,” he said.
The Principal Judge and Patron of IAWJ-UC, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, welcomed the guests noting that their presence was a demonstration of their commitment to the ideals that unite them. She added that these ideals include the promotion of equal justice, advancement of women in the justice sector, protection of human rights, and strengthening of the rule of law.
She called for stronger partnerships to remove barriers to justice and advance the rights of women and vulnerable groups. She noted that many barriers to justice arise before cases reach the courtroom, particularly for women, children and other vulnerable people who may lack knowledge of their rights, financial means to obtain legal assistance or face social, cultural and economic barriers.
Lady Justice Abodo urged the Judiciary to work with the legal profession, civil society, development partners, academia, media and communities to strengthen awareness of legal rights, improve referral mechanisms for survivors of SGBV, bring justice closer to communities and mentor the next generation of women lawyers and judicial officers.
“Let us move beyond partnership in name,” she said, urging partners to develop initiatives with clear objectives, defined responsibilities, measurable outcomes and lasting impact.
She further challenged women Judges to use their leadership positions to mentor others, amplify voices and improve access to justice, while reaffirming her commitment to supporting the IAWJ-UC in strengthening partnerships and contributing to a people-centred justice system.
Lady Justice Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, President of IAWJ-UC, highlighted the Association’s longstanding work, including judicial training on gender-sensitive justice and partnerships supporting its programmes.
She credited partners, including the Austrian Development Agency and UN Women, for supporting training and development of a gender-sensitive judicial resource manual. She also recognized the Judiciary’s leadership and male champions for their support of the Association’s work.
Lady Justice Mukwaya also noted that the Association’s experience with SGBV cases has shown that adjudication alone cannot address the underlying causes of violence. She called for stronger collaboration among justice institutions, civil society and other stakeholders, noting that fragmented efforts need to be brought together.
She urged stakeholders to work towards a coordinated national response to sexual and gender-based violence, drawing lessons from Uganda’s response to HIV/AIDS. She also highlighted IAWJ-UC’s community interventions, including support for vulnerable learners, as an example of how partnerships can address challenges that extend beyond the courtroom.
Posted 14th, August 2026
