Kampala-The Chief Registrar, His Worship (HW) Agnes Alum, has pledged to strengthen monitoring, training and accountability in the implementation of State Funded Legal Representation across the country.
HW Alum made the remarks this afternoon while chairing the Quarter Four FY 2025/2026 meeting of the State Funded Legal Representation Implementation Committee at the Supreme Court Building in Kampala.
The meeting marked her maiden sitting as Chairperson of the Committee since assuming office as Chief Registrar.
In her remarks, HW Alum thanked members for honouring the invitation and keeping time, noting that although she had previously served on the Committee as Registrar for Magistrates Affairs and Data Management, this was her first time chairing the meeting as Chief Registrar.
She commended the outgoing Chairperson for steering the Committee and appreciated members for their contribution towards cleaning up and consolidating the Roll of State Funded Advocates. She also applauded the Secretariat, headed by the Registrar High Court, for compiling the information that facilitated the issuance of the Roll on April 24, 2026.
The Chief Registrar reminded members that the Committee derives its mandate from the Judicature (Legal Representation at the Expense of the State) Rules, 2022, which seek to streamline the management of state funded legal representation in the administration of justice.
She emphasized the need for the Committee to move beyond desk monitoring and undertake field visits to assess implementation on the ground.
“The last field monitoring exercise was conducted in September 2024. We need to resume these engagements and assess how the programme is being implemented across the country,” she noted.
HW Alum further stressed the importance of extending oversight beyond advocates appearing before the High Court to include those handling matters before Chief Magistrates’ Courts in order to ensure a more holistic assessment of the programme.
On stakeholder capacity building, the Chief Registrar observed that the last training sessions for stakeholders were conducted in 2023 and called for more regular engagements.
She proposed collaboration with the Judicial Training Institute (JTI) to facilitate continuous training for advocates, registrars and chief magistrates involved in the implementation of state funded legal representation.
The Chief Registrar also directed the Secretariat to circulate the Committee work plan by the close of the week to guide members as the current financial year comes to an end and preparations begin for FY 2026/2027.
“As a new Chair to this Committee, I undertake to be available and diligent to steer the Committee forward from now on,” HW Alum said.
Members of the Committee congratulated HW Alum upon her appointment as Chief Registrar and welcomed her leadership, expressing confidence in achieving improved results under her stewardship.
During deliberations on matters arising from the Roll of State Funded Advocates, members observed that the Roll had largely been finalized in principle and should now be widely circulated to stakeholders for feedback before final adjustments are made.
As part of the resolutions reached, the Committee proposed the establishment of a Monitoring Sub-Committee to conduct field visits, gather information and develop tools to support implementation.
Members also agreed that audit and monitoring activities should be undertaken in the next quarter, particularly in August, and resolved to engage the Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat to develop a specialized monitoring tool tailored to the Committee’s work.
