The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has launched a Mentorship Programme for Prosecutors aimed at enhancing the litigation, research, case preparation, and legal writing skills of ODPP Prosecutors.
The five-day workshop, which began yesterday 16, 2024, is part of an ongoing effort to improve the professional capacity of ODPP Prosecutors and ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness in the justice system. The workshop will run until December 20, 2024.
In her opening remarks, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, expressed gratitude to the UNODC for their support in financing the workshop. She emphasized that this mentorship programme was one of her key objectives when she assumed office in May 2020. Lady Justice Abodo highlighted the importance of improving the skills of Prosecutors in case preparation, litigation, legal opinion writing, and court document preparation. She noted that the formation of the mentorship team in June 2024 was a significant milestone aimed at ensuring criminal prosecution excellence.
The mentorship programme is designed to enhance the prosecution of criminal cases, appeals, and miscellaneous applications. As part of the initiative, the team will conduct case preparation meetings, review session reports, assess case files, and engage in one-on-one mentoring to address individual challenges faced by Prosecutors. Lady Justice Abodo urged participants to engage actively in the workshop, embracing the opportunity to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
Ms. Sharon Lesa Nyambe, Head of the UNODC Office in Uganda, reaffirmed the shared commitment between the ODPP and UNODC to transform Uganda’s justice sector into a more professional, effective, and inclusive system. She acknowledged the critical role played by the UNODC in promoting global peace, security, and human rights, highlighting its focus on combating drugs, organized crime, terrorism, and corruption.
Ms. Nyambe specifically referenced the UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Eastern Africa 2024-2030, which outlines the organization’s commitment to supporting interventions related to criminal justice, cybercrime, terrorism, and violent extremism. The mentorship workshop falls under the Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Uganda Programme, which aims to foster resilience against violent extremism and support crime prevention and offender rehabilitation.
Ms. Nyambe also recognized the local expertise within Uganda’s legal sector and stressed the importance of integrating international expertise, especially in the area of violent extremism. The inclusion of violent extremism as a topic in the mentorship workshop signals the ODPP’s readiness to incorporate strategies for preventing and countering violent extremism into its work plan.
Mr. Andrew Odiit, Head of the Mentorship Team, expressed his appreciation for the DPP’s initiative to create the team and for selecting capable officers to serve as mentors. He introduced the members of the team, including Mr. Sam Oola – Senior Assistant DPP, Ms. Vicky Nabisenke – Assistant DPP, Ms. Samali Wakooli – Assistant DPP, Ms. Fatina Nakafeero – Chief State Attorney, and Mr. Jonathan Muwaganya – Chief State Attorney, who have been working towards excellence in prosecution service delivery for nearly four years.
Mr. Odiit outlined the team’s primary objectives, which include equipping Prosecutors with essential skills in trial advocacy, enhancing their knowledge in drafting court documents, writing legal opinions, and reports, as well as improving professional ethics and understanding of the performance appraisal process. He encouraged participants to take full advantage of the mentorship opportunity to enhance their skills and advance in their careers.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Alex Michael Ojok, Regional Officer for Jinja, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the workshop in Jinja. He pointed out that the workshop comes at a crucial time when Prosecutors face a range of challenges, such as external pressures influencing their work and gaps in legal knowledge and skills. Mr. Ojok emphasized the workshop’s potential to address these challenges and improve the overall capacity of Prosecutors.
The Prosecutors being mentored in this first batch are Prosecutors from Jinja Region.
