Officiating the Paralegal Kit hand over ceremony

Tivu Mark the DCAO handing over the paralegal kit to one of the paralegals

Tivu Mark the DISTRICT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (DCAO) Hoima district local government told the older persons who qualified as paralegals for the "Access to Justice and Human Rights Awareness Project" (AJURA) to have commitment, transparency and confidentiality as they serve the community so that Uganda Reach the Aged Association (URAA) staff can trust them in order to be able to continue working with them in other up coming projects. He also emphasized that commitment, confidentiality and transparency would enable the community members to trust paralegals and be able to intervene in more cases.

Paralegal Kit distribution photos

Kyangwali sub county paralegals showing their paralegal items

Kyangwali paralegal team

Paralegals from Kitoba, Kyangwali and Kiziranfumbi sub counties pose for a photo after receiving their paralegal kit

Activity: Distribution of paralegal kits

After an intensive 4 days training of 80 paralegals from the sub counties of Kigorobya, Kyangwali, Kiziranfumbi and Kitoba, the volunteers "paralegals" were given the items that would enable them perform their paralegal duties more effectively and efficiently.

These items that made up the paralegal kit included:
-A bicycle
-A name tag
-A record book
-A t/shirt
-A bag
-The Ugandan Constitution
-The Land Act of the Republic of Uganda
-Paralegal Manual
-Older persons policy

Assembled bicycles ready to be taken by the paralegals

Activity-Paralegal Training

The term "Paralegals" refers to the community volunteers that will work closely with Uganda Reach the Aged Association staff and partners to ensure that project deliverables are achieved in a timely manner. Identified community volunteer from Kyangwali sub county, Kitoba sub county, Kiziranfumbi and Kigorobya sub counties were trained between the 24th and 27th of June 2015 by Human Rights Advocates. 

Older persons identified as Paralegals attending a paralegal training at Kabwoya site

The training aimed at realizing Functional human rights cadres based at the village level. Sixty one  males and nineteen females were trained as paralegals in total  from the four sub counties of implementation as indicated above.

At the front line from the left is Ester Angom a URAA staff, Human Rights Advocates Hawa Birungi and John Egessa Odoki

since participatory method was used t facilitate the paralegal training,facilitators also had a chance to sit back and  allow the older persons to share some of their experiences on the topics under discussion..

Paralegals trained from Kitoba sub county hall attentively listening to one of the participants experience and knowledge on will writing. In front of them at the extreme back is Juliet Nakyanzi one of the facilitators at the training

Activity-Formation of SPAG committee

On the 12th,June, 2015, older persons were invited to Hoima Public Library by Paul Mulindwa from Kibale District Civil Society Organization Network for the formation of the Social Protection Action Group (SPAG) committee that would advocate for the rights and privileges of the older persons including increasing demand  for the roll out of the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) in Bunyoro Region.

Older persons posing for a photo in front of Hoima Public Library after the SPAG committee formation meeting. Extreme second to the left is Paul Mulindwa the organizer of the meeting.

The elected SPAG committee members. The third person from the left is Mr. Kabagambe Francis the chairperson SPAG Committee who is also the chairperson Hoima Voice of Older Persons Association and at his left is the Vice Chairperson.

Activity- Baseline Survey

On completion of the general project activities, a baseline survey was conducted based on the following Baseline Survey Objectives 

The survey sought to find out the status of Older persons in Kyangwali and Kitoba Sub Counties out of the four sub counties where the Access to Justice and Human Rights Awareness (AJURA) project will be implemented. The baseline focused on human rights and access to justice issues for Ops.   

A research Assistant engaging one of the household participants during the baseline survey

To generate baseline data which will set benchmarks and milestones in order to provide an analysis from data collected to inform implementation of the project, monitor and measure progress achieved through interventions in the targeted sub counties. ·         To      Produce a contextually relevant set of monitoring tools for use by the project in the targeted sub counties and setting benchmarks for the project takeoff and overall direction.

·         Impart the URAA staff and partners with relevant skills in monitoring, collecting and analyzing data and effective reporting.

·         To assess the extent of involvement of rights holders/community in Providing Access to Justice and Human Rights Awareness to older persons in the project area.