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Graduate: James Osano

I get satisfaction from the fact that I am now able to help others, who like me, are in prison and cannot afford legal representation.

Pascal Kakuru: In His Own Words

There are many dates I will not forget.

Pascal Kakuru: The Law Graduate

If you see the bars, the walls... if you let yourself accept where you are, that is the end. If you asked me how I survived in prison, I don’t know, God knows’.

A Visitor’s Perspective: Pascal Kakuru

In 12 years Pascal has been more than a couple of hundred yards from the room in which he lives only once: the room is a prison cell in Upper Prison, the maximum security wing at Luzira, Kampala - Uganda

When Justice Is Served From Behind Bars

We share the stories of two more of our Graduates - Meschak Ouma and Philip Mueke - who have overcome great challenges to study the law and ensure that justice is served in Kenyan Prisons.

Release: John Bosco Oryem

As an inmate at Upper Prison, in his own words, Oryem said the need to study law was because of his desire to be able to defend the under-privileged population in the courts of law.

Graduates: Willis Ochieng and Peter Kago

Two of our Law Graduates from 2018 - Willis Ochieng and Peter Kago - have carried the roles of prisoner, paralegal, student and teacher. We might find this extraordinary but they are not unique.

From the Pain of Arrest to a Promising Future - One Man’s Story

In my time as a paralegal I have helped a number of inmates receive reduced sentences, while others have been acquitted.

Graduate: Joseph Karanja

Before prison, Joseph had always wanted to study law but had not met the qualifications needed to receive government sponsorship. In prison, his passion only grew deeper…

A Vision for Justice Through Eyes that Have Cried: Strategic Litigation from the Margins

Challenging parliament to improve sentencing guidelines for people with mental health conditions in Uganda

Access to justice is a fundamental human right and a critical mechanism to combat a wide range of human rights violations. Yet, in Uganda, countless individuals who lack the means to secure legal representation face an uncertain future.

“I always looked forward to proving society wrong.”

Meet Phionah. She is part of our unlikely community. Her commitment to justice led her to serve clients alongside fellow paralegals, both incarcerated women and prison officers.

Expanding outside of prisons. Disrupting the poverty-to-prison pipeline in Nairobi.

The lack of meaningful access to justice impacts nearly two of every three people worldwide. The cost is greatest for those with the least. Our first-ever legal office, based outside of a prison, is a game-changer.

Poem: A call to bridge the path towards justice.

A message of hope in Uganda from Alex Byamukama.

A day in the life of a Justice Defenders Legal Officer: Kenneth Kugonza in Uganda

Kenneth Kugoza works in mid-central Uganda, helping those facing injustice. He shares how he spends his day across multiple prisons.

Allyship beyond perceived differences.

Three prison officers overcome perceived differences in service of those in prison. This unique show of solidarity is truly what makes the fabric of our community a unique tapestry of allies.

Reforming the Sexual Offences Act: securing proportionate sentencing.

Success as Justice Defenders paralegals ensure judges are able to use their discretion to sentence people convicted of sexual offences.

The unlikely activists. Reforming the criminal justice system from behind prison bars.

Success as Justice Defenders paralegals secure rights for suspects with mental disabilities.