The legal aid service provider network (LASPNET) a non-governmental organization has today launched a 3-year programme dubbed as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice in Uganda.

Dr Sylvia Namubiru Mukasa the CEO LASPNET says UNODC was established in 1997 and the agency’s focus is the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, crime prevention and criminal justice, international terrorism and political corruption. Namubiru reveals that specific objectives of the programme are to strengthening mechanisms for court administration and case management, increasing access to quality legal aid service for vulnerable groups among others.

She adds that the project will work with different stakeholders including prisoners and ex-prisoners, youth, community members, special needs persons, paralegals, teachers and health workers among others. In his remarks, Ronald Sekajja a member on the steering committee of UNODC says the programme is learning in 20 districts offering legal services to cases resulting from drug abuse like using Marijuwana, Cocain, Cuba, alcohol and other cases like gambling calling upon communities to embrace the programme. While launching the programme,

RDC Kibaale Angalia says the district is registering serious cases of drug abuse and cases related with land matters however requesting to roll out the programme in security agencies.