Kololo, Kampala- On 2026 International Women’s Day, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is proud of its Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Department of Gender, Children and Sexual Offences, Ms. Samali Wakooli, as a recipient of the Diamond Jubilee Medal by H. E. The President of the Republic of Uganda.
This award recognizes her outstanding service and loyalty to the country. The medal was presented during the national celebrations of the International Women’s Day at Kololo National Ceremonial Grounds.
Ms. Wakooli was recognized for successfully prosecuting high-profile criminal cases, securing justice for victims, and being a strong advocate for improved justice for victims of crime, especially in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases.
She was further acknowledged for her innovative, victim-centered approaches in criminal justice, such as establishing various child-friendly spaces for interviewing child victims nationwide, enabling them to testify easily, and resulting in successful criminal prosecutions. She also introduced the use of anatomically detailed dolls as evidence aids to help children give testimony in court, resulting in successful criminal prosecutions.
Additionally, Ms. Wakooli was praised for extensively training law enforcement, medical officers, and probation officers on how to handle Gender-Based Violence cases, improving their capacity to deliver justice to victims, many of whom are women and children. Ms. Wakooli was recognized for her significant contribution toward the current 81% conviction rate in SGBV cases.
Therefore, she was awarded the title of Honour of the Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding service, dedication, and contribution to the development of Uganda.
The ODPP congratulated Ms. Samali Wakooli for the achievement and expresses its appreciation to H.E. the President for the award.
