Published on: March 29, 2026
Mr. Ntlantla Valtein, a fellow under the NOREC exchange programme attached to the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), shared a progress update on his placement at the FHRI Bushenyi Legal Aid Project (F-BLAP) covering activities up to June 2025. His work spanned several districts in western Uganda and aligned with FHRI’s strategic pillars of prevention, legal assistance, and advocacy, with a focus on access to justice, rehabilitation, and humane treatment of inmates.
A key highlight was the facilitation of community service sensitization and training workshops in Sheema and Bushenyi districts. These sessions brought together magistrates, police officers, community service officials, and local leaders to promote community service as a non-custodial sentence for minor offences. The trainings emphasized prison decongestion, offender rehabilitation, and inter-institutional collaboration, strengthening a restorative justice approach at the local level.
In Bushenyi and Sheema prisons, Mr. Valtein provided direct legal support to inmates, including drafting and submitting bail applications to the High Court and initiating mandatory bail processes. He also followed up on court schedules to ensure detainees were informed and prepared, addressing prolonged remand caused by limited legal representation.
Between 19th and 23rd May 2025, legal assistance and prevention activities were conducted in Buhweju District alongside FHRI Paralegal Mr. Tumuheki Amons. Engagements with Local Council leaders highlighted challenges such as land disputes, domestic conflicts, and economically driven petty crimes. Visits to Buhweju Police Station and Prison revealed detainees held on minor charges, including coffee theft. FHRI interventions enabled two detainees to reconnect with their families to initiate bail, while prison officials raised concerns about overcrowding and limited access to legal aid.
Additional legal outreach and sensitization sessions were held at Bushenyi Men’s and Women’s Prisons, focusing on bail, plea bargaining, and inmates’ legal rights. In Rubirizi, engagements at the police station supported detainees charged with minor offences, including facilitating restitution and reconciliation in one case—demonstrating the practical impact of restorative justice. Two inmates sentenced to community service were formally handed over to Community Service Officers, reinforcing FHRI’s advocacy for non-custodial sentencing.
Overall, the May–June 2025 field engagements reaffirmed that access to justice is a fundamental human right. Through legal empowerment, community engagement, and strong partnerships with justice sector actors, FHRI continues to advance a justice system rooted in fairness, rehabilitation, and dignity—particularly for underserved rural communities.