The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and EVOLVE – Foundation for International Legal Assistance (FILA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Virtual Prosecutors’ Academy.
FILA is a United Kingdom (UK) registered charity and criminal justice development organization with the aim of improving access to justice, building the capacity of individuals and institutions, and promoting efficiency, integrity, and fairness within the criminal justice sector of Uganda.
Under the agreement signed by, EVOLVE-FILA in collaboration with the ODPP shall design and handover an online course platform, syllabus, course content and other resources for training use, a range of updateable reference resources for prosecutors, deliver pilot training of a sample of prosecutors, and training of prosecutorial trainers, and conduct monitoring and evaluation of prosecutorial training effectiveness.
Speaking about the benefits of the academy, the DPP, Jane Frances Abodo said, “The Prosecutors will be trained on the emerging trends in criminal activity, acquire new prosecutorial skills suitable for the 21st century, become trainers of trainers, and train other criminal justice actors. The academy will reach all prosecutors in every area of Uganda, and greatly reduce the costs and logistics involved in physical training.”
Mr Alex Bennie, Barrister and Director of Programmes for EVOLVE – FILA who attended remotely from the UK said, “Prosecutors are the backbone of a Criminal Justice System, and as a criminal justice development organisation, it is essential that EVOLVE supports them.”
Alex Bennie will head up the delivery of the project.
Mr Kibirige Apollo Kasujja, the Senior Project Coordinator at EVOLVE – FILA also said, “The signing of the MOU is a milestone on the journey of a great partnership towards the achievement of a common goal of improving access to justice, promotion of integrity, fairness and efficiency in the Criminal Justice System in Uganda.”
The British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Kate Airey said, “I believe that this Virtual Prosecutors’ Academy will play a vital role in the improvement of professional skills and potentially broaden job-based specialization in tackling crime for improved business climate and law and order.”
EVOLVE – FILA will be funded to offer technical assistance to the ODPP by the UK Government through ROLE UK.
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