Kerry Howard Mwesigwa.
KAMPALA, October 02, 2023 | The government of Uganda is set to launch a mobile application that will contain all the laws of the country, according to the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka. The app, which will be launched on December 31, 2023, will enable users to access the laws of Uganda online in one space, without having to rely on outdated or incomplete copies.
The app is part of the government’s efforts to improve the legal system and the administration of justice in Uganda, as well as to promote the rule of law and the protection of human rights. The app will also make it easier for lawyers, judges, researchers, students, and the general public to access the laws of Uganda, which are currently published in hard copies known as the Red Volumes.
The Red Volumes are a collection of laws that have been enacted by the Parliament of Uganda since 1962, when the country gained its independence. The laws are divided into seven volumes, each containing about 450 laws. The laws cover various topics, such as the constitution, criminal law, civil law, land law, family law, commercial law, and labor law.
However, the Red Volumes are not easily accessible, as they are expensive, bulky, and often out of stock. Moreover, the Red Volumes are not updated regularly, as the process of amending and publishing the laws is slow and cumbersome. As a result, many users of the laws are not aware of the latest changes or amendments that have been made to the laws.
The app, therefore, will address these challenges by providing a convenient, affordable, and updated source of the laws of Uganda. The app will also allow users to search, browse, and download the laws of Uganda, as well as to receive notifications of any amendments or new laws that are enacted.
The app will be developed by the Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC), which is a statutory body that is mandated to review, reform, and simplify the laws of Uganda. The ULRC will work in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Parliament of Uganda, and the Judiciary of Uganda, to ensure that the app contains the most accurate and comprehensive information on the laws of Uganda.
The app will be based on the Laws of Uganda website, which is an online platform that was launched by the ULRC in 2019. The website is designed so that any Uganda enactment can be searched easily on the internet chronologically as well as in alphabetical order with annotated amendments. Subscribers to the website have access to Clean Acts and Regulations and amended annotated Acts and their Regulations.
The app will be available for both Android and iOS devices, and will require users to pay a subscription fee to access the full content of the laws of Uganda. The subscription fee, however, has not been disclosed yet by the Attorney General. The app will also have a free version that will allow users to access some basic information on the laws of Uganda.
