Legal Glossary

Access to Justice Access to justice  is the  ability of people to seek and obtain a remedy through formal or informal institutions…

Administrator General The Office of the Administrator General manages estates of deceased persons, who die without leaving a will, or where a…

Advocacy (Campaigns) Advocacy means to undertake  efforts to change policy and practice  at the local, national or international level; to c hange…

Affidavit Is a written statement of truth made on oath to confirm the existence of certain facts, usually intended to be produced…

Mediation (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Mediation is one of the ways through which issues brought to JCU are handled and/ or solved. It…

Assessor High Court Trials the judge is supported by Assessors. Assessors can give an opinion regarding whether or not they believe the…

Award of Costs When you, as a JCU client, have been  awarded costs in a concluded case  JCU will be in  charge…

Awareness on legal rights Awareness on legal rights  implies not only the availability of information on legal rights and the judicial processes,…

Bail Bail  is where an accused person is  released from  prison  before their trial    BUT  that person is  required to come…

Community Baraza A  Community Baraza  is a gathering that  provides an open platform for persons to  hold their duty bearers accountable  in…

Basic Legal Advice Legal Advice refers to  information that is given to you about how best you can deal with a grievance…

National Legal Aid Bill The Government of Uganda has a  very limited legal obligation to provide legal aid  and this has negatively…

Bonafide Occupant A bonafide occupant does not have a title to land that he/she is occupying and no one has challenged his…

Capital Offence Criminal offences are either Capital or Petty offences. A capital offence is one that carries a maximum sentence of death…

Care Order: The care order places the child under the supervision of the probation and social welfare officer while leaving the child…

Court Case Backlog A court backlog is a pending case which is pending before the court for a longer period than the…

Caveat Caveats generally means a 'warning'.  In law, a caveat is basically a notice meaning that certain actions shouldn't be taken without…

Certificate of No Objection It is a formal document stating that the Administrator General has no objection or does not object to…

Child Labour Child Labour denies children their fundamental human rights such as the right to education, right to rest and leisure and…

Child Maintenance Child maintenance is a Children’s Right. All Children enjoy a right to live and be cared for by their parents…

Child Trafficking The recruitment, movement and eventual exploitation of children which occurs within Uganda as well as across the borders. The children…

Children in Conflict with the Law They are defined as anyone under 18 who comes into contact with the justice system as…

Children's Right's: In Uganda a child is a person below 18 years. Children and young people have the same general human rights…

Children’s Right’s: In Uganda a child is a person below 18 years. Children and young people have the same general human rights…

Civil Society Organization (CSO) Civil society refers to a wide range of organisations including: community groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labour unions, indigenous…

Clerkship at JCU JCU does provide opportunities for university students and students at  Law Development Centre (LDC)  to  intern  and clerk at…

Client Charter The client charter is an  undertaking by the client and JCU detailing the obligations of each party  for the legal…

Client Registration Card You receive a Client Registration Card  after JCU has agreed to represent you in court (please also see the…

Clients Satisfaction Survey (CSS) As part of Justice Centres Uganda’s continuous endeavor to serve its clients better, it undertakes  client satisfaction measurements…

Codicil A Will can be altered by the testator at any time before his or her death. They can do so using…

Committal It is the duty of the Magistrates court to read the charge to the offender, he/she will be asked whether he/she understands…

Community Communities refer to physical communities as in villages, communities by characteristics such as women, indigent people, persons in detention etc. as…

Community Communities refer to physical communities as in villages, communities by characteristics such as women, indigent people, persons in detention etc. as…

Community Service A sentencing option for persons convicted of crimes in which the court orders the defendant to perform a number of…

Community-based volunteer (CBV) Ambassador A community-based volunteer is a person  based in any community.  He/ she supports JCU and the activities for and…

Compensation A monetary remedy that is awarded to an individual who has sustained  personal injury/ loss/ damage to property/ person in order…

Condominium Property This is a relatively new system of land ownership in Uganda. It is a system of ownership of individual units…

Court of Appeal or Constitutional Court The court has the power to hear appeals from decisions of the High Court. This court…

Court case backlog Court case backlog  refers to  uncompleted cases  which have stayed in the justice system (court)  for more than two…

Court of Appeal or Constitutional Court The court has the power to hear appeals from decisions of the High Court. This court…

Court-annexed mediations The mediation is based on a mandatory referral from the Judiciary.  Neither of the parties is represented by an advocate…

Criminal Law Criminal law is a set of laws used to punish people whose conduct is considered to be a danger to…

Trainings for Cultural Leaders and Local Council Executives Together, we identify  capacity gaps  in terms of legal rights and their impact on…

Customary Land Tenure Customary Tenure is a system of land ownership based on customary rules formed from norms and cultures of clans,…

Debt Bondage or Bonded Labour This means that the status or condition arising from a pledge by the debtor of his or…

Defilement Defilement is where a person (offender) performs a sexual act with a child (victim). A child under the law is a…

District Chain-linked Committee (DCC) At the District level, the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) is represented by the JLOS  District Chain…

District Labour Officer Duties of a District labour officer One of the functions of the District Labour Officer is to restrict and…

Divorce Divorce is when a marriage is lawfully brought to an end either by a court or other competent authority. Christian and…

Domestic violence Domestic violence is any act done by the perpetrator which harms or injures the safety or wellbeing of the victim…

Domestic worker A domestic worker is a person (male/female) carrying on tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing and ironing clothes, taking care…

Empowerment Empowerment  happens when   communities  have the knowledge of rights and procedures , the c ourage and strength to apply that…

Executor When a person dies after writing a valid will, then the person who is in charge of fulfilling the dead person’s…

Family and Children's Court The Family and children's court is presided over by a magistrate grade 1 and entertains applications in regards…

Family Land The Constitution provides that a man and a woman have a right to marry and shall have equal rights at…

Field Mediation Mediation is one of the ways through which issues brought to JCU are handled and/ or solved. It is a …

Follow-up of your case JCU is keen to accompany the process of your case. Therefore, we undertake  follow-up calls  and support you…

Freehold Tenure Freehold tenure is a system where owners of land have a deed/ title to their land which allows them to…

Hazardous Work Hazardous work is work which by its nature or the circumstances under which it is performed, jeopardizes the health, safety…

High Court This Court has powers to hear any case. Therefore, any case can be started in the High Court. This court…

Human Rights Based JCU’s legal aid services are considered human rights based as following the principles of non-discrimination and equality , i.e.…

Human Rights Based JCU’s legal aid services are considered human rights based as following the principles of non-discrimination and equality , i.e.…

Industrial Court This court was set up for purposes of resolving disputes between employers and employees. It is composed of 5 members:…

Judicial Service Commission This Judicial Service Commission was created by the Constitution of Uganda. Its duties are: To advise the President on…

Judiciary Created by the Constitution of Uganda, the Judiciary is the system of courts of law where you, or your family or…

Juvenile offenders or Children in Conflict with the Law They are defined as anyone under 18 who comes into contact with the…

Land Title A land title is one of the most fundamental documents to show proof of land ownership in Uganda. Some people…

Occupancy on land other than the main tenures of land ownership The law creates two main types of occupancy on land namely,…

Leasehold Tenure Leasehold can be defined as holding land for a known time frame based on conditions in an agreement between the…

(Free) Legal Aid Access to legal aid is central to ensuring access to justice.  Legal aid is the professional legal assistance given,…

National Legal Aid Bill The Government of Uganda has a  very limited legal obligation to provide legal aid  and this has negatively…

Legal awareness A  legal right is a claim or interest which is recognizable and enforceable at law . It is protected by…

Legal Rights Legal Rights are liberties or protections individuals have because of a coutry's legislation. Legal Rights ensure that the government, or…

Letters of Administration It can be defined as a legal document issued by a competent Court, which allows the administrator(s) to manage…

Light Work Light work refers to non-hazardous activities done by children within their homes under observation and supervision by their families in…

Litigation When your case has merit (passed the  Means and Merit Test ) and the  dispute couldn’t be solved through mediation ,…

Local Council Courts (LCC)  Local Council Courts (LC) are under the supervision of Chief Magistrate on behalf of the High Court. LCs…

Locus Mediation Locus mediations are carried out at the location of the dispute or away from JCU offices. These are usually undertaken…

Magistrate Court These are the most accessible and used courts in the country and all districts have a Magistrate Court. They comprise…

Mailo Land Tenure Mailo tenure is a system of owning land in which there is an owner of the land, called a…

Marriage All over the world, Marriage is a widely celebrated institution. Marriage is a contractual union between a man and a woman…

Matrimonial Property Marital property is property that is acquired during marriage and that is subject to distribution or division at the time…

Means and Merit Test (MMT) JCU only has limited resources to provide its services therefore the priority is given  to poor, vulnerable, marginalized…

Mediation (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Mediation is one of the ways through which issues brought to JCU are handled and/ or solved. It…

Mediation (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Mediation is one of the ways through which issues brought to JCU are handled and/ or solved. It…

Mediation Letter Every  mediation is started  with s  neutral letter from JCU  which is sent to the person against whom the complaint…

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Mediation is one of the ways through which issues brought to JCU are handled and/ or solved. It…

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Mediation is one of the ways through which issues brought to JCU are handled and/ or solved. It…

Military Courts These Courts are judicial bodies of the military created according to the military code. They are set up to hear…

Mob Justice Mob justice is illegal It is is a form of extra judicial punishment or retribution in which a person suspected…

National Legal Aid Bill The Government of Uganda has a  very limited legal obligation to provide legal aid  and this has negatively…

Office Mediation Mediation is one of the ways through which issues brought to JCU are handled and/ or solved. It is a …

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is a Government body created by…

Community Outreach Outreaches  are an opportunity for community members to get to know more about their  legal rights, raise their issues and…

Outreaches Outreaches are an opportunity for community members to get to know more about their legal rights, raise their issues and discuss…

Persons in Conflict with Law (PCL) outreaches Under outreaches for Persons in Conflict with Law (PCL), prisons and police stations in Uganda…

Petty Offences These are minor offences whose penalty ranges from a caution, low value fine, community service and a one-month imprisonment term.…

Plea Bargaining Plea bargaining is a process between an accused person (in  prison ) and the prosecution. The a ccused person agrees…

Plea Bargaining Plea bargaining is a process between an accused person (in  prison ) and the prosecution. The a ccused person agrees…

Uganda Police Force (UPF) The Uganda Police Force is another Government body created by the Constitution of Uganda. The head of Uganda…

The Police under the Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU) They handle child and family related matters and in most cases engage…

Police Bond A person arrested and detained at a police station after being suspected for breaking the law may be released until…

Police Custody An arrest is using legal authority to deprive a person of his or her freedom of movement. In Uganda most…

Uganda Prison Service (UPS) Uganda Prisons Service provides reasonable, safe, secure and humane custody of suspects and offenders as well as rehabilitation.…

Prison Decongestion Program (PDP) Prisons in Uganda are overcrowded.  This prevailing situation is costly to government in terms of maintaining the inmates…

Powers of a Prison Officer A Prison Officer has similar powers, protection, and privileges of a Police Officer within a prison or…

Grant of Probate Before an executor elected in a deceased’s will proceeds to manage or distribute the property, the Executor should get…

The Probation, Social and Welfare Officer (PSWO) These are empowered with responsibilities at the district level to handle all child related matters.…

Quality Quality (of legal aid provision): Number one element of quality services in access to justice revolves around the timeliness of the…

Reconciliation This  is the process of two people or groups in a conflict agreeing to make amends or come to a truce.…

Restitution Restitution is a remedy which is used to restore the injured party to the position occupied before the offense. The basic…

Sanctioning Sanctioning means approval made that the case has merit and deserves a court hearing.

Forwarding the Suspect to court (Sanctioning of the file) This is a process taking place when somebody asks to be relieved on…

Self-representation (in Court) Self-representation refers to a situation when a  person appearing in court does not have an advocate and makes their…

State Attorney The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is responsible for representing the State (Government) in all cases of a criminal nature.…

State Brief Scheme (SBS) Capital offenders are provided mandatory legal representation  at the  state’s expense.  Therefore, JCU provides legal representation to capital…

Summons Summons are provided by court. The summons is the document that officially starts a lawsuit. It must be in a form prescribed…

Supervision Order The supervision order places the child under the supervision of the probation and social welfare officer while leaving the child…

Supreme Court This is the highest, final or last Court of Appeal in Uganda. Once your case reaches the Supreme Court, there…

Surety A surety is a person who appears in court and promises that the accused will come to court for his/her trial…

Tax Appeals Tribunals These tribunals were established purposely to deal with tax appeals, to provide the taxpayer with an easily accessible, efficient…

What is a Tenancy agreement? This is a contract between the landlord and the tenant who wants to live in or utilize…

Testator A person (male or female), who is making or has made a will is called the testator . Testate succession is…

Trainings for Cultural Leaders and Local Council Executives Together, we identify  capacity gaps  in terms of legal rights and their impact on…

Uganda Law Society (ULS) Uganda Law Society is an organization for all advocates or lawyers who represent you in the courts of…

Volunteering JCU does provide opportunities for university students and students at  Law Development Centre (LDC)  to  intern  and clerk at the various…

Volunteering JCU does provide opportunities for university students and students at  Law Development Centre (LDC)  to  intern  and clerk at the various…

Volunteering JCU does provide opportunities for university students and students at  Law Development Centre (LDC)  to  intern  and clerk at the various…

Vulnerability JCU considers the following vulnerabilities when defining her constituency: lack of knowledge about  legal rights ; lack of knowledge about  how…

Vulnerability JCU considers the following vulnerabilities when defining her constituency: lack of knowledge about  legal rights ; lack of knowledge about  how…

While You Wait Session The While you Wait Programme informs you about  what to expect from JCU . Furthermore, a c urrent…

Will A will is a WRITTEN document made while a person is alive in which he or she gives instructions as to…

Worst Forms of Child Labour Work which by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out is likely to…