The Acting Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Pamella Lamunu Ocaya, has chaired the first Quarter Three meeting of the State-Funded Legal Representation Implementation Committee for the 2025/2026 Financial Year at the Supreme Court of Uganda.

Ocaya commended committee members for their commitment to expanding access to justice and underscored the importance of implementing the Judicature (Legal Representation at the Expense of the State) Rules, 2022.

"The framework is a cornerstone in safeguarding the right to a fair hearing and enhancing public confidence in the justice system," Ocaya said.

She urged members to remain focused and collaborative, noting that timely implementation of the rules is critical to ensuring justice for vulnerable persons who cannot afford legal representation.

The meeting reviewed the Draft Roll of State-Funded Advocates, an instrument designed to streamline the selection and assignment of qualified advocates to eligible beneficiaries.

The initiative is expected to improve efficiency, accountability and transparency in the delivery of legal services under the state-funded scheme.

The State-Funded Legal Representation programme is anchored in the Judicature (Legal Representation at the Expense of the State) Rules, 2022, which operationalise the constitutional right to a fair hearing, particularly for indigent persons facing serious criminal charges.