The Bugisu Cultural Institution has taken a significant step towards strengthening community justice and conflict resolution through the distribution of the Local Council Courts Act, 2006, translated into Lumasaba, to local government units across the Bugisu sub-region.
The spokesperson of the Bugisu Cultural Institution, Mr. Steven Masiga, delivered 20 copies of the translated law books to Bufumbo Sub-county and Jewa Town Council for use in mediation, dispute resolution, and community sensitization.
The translated copies were donated to the Bugisu Cultural Institution following a request made by the Office of the Spokesperson, recognizing the need to make legal knowledge more accessible to ordinary citizens and local leaders who primarily communicate in Lumasaba.
Speaking during the handover, Mr. Masiga emphasized that translating the Local Council Courts Act into Lumasaba will empower local council leaders, cultural leaders, mediators, and community members to better understand the law and effectively resolve disputes at the grassroots level.
“This initiative is about bringing justice closer to the people. When citizens and local leaders understand the law in a language they speak and understand, mediation becomes easier, conflicts are resolved peacefully, and communities become more harmonious,” Mr. Masiga said.
The Bugisu Cultural Institution revealed that the distribution exercise will be extended across the entire region, with every sub-county in Bugisu expected to receive nine copies of the translated Act. The books will serve as an important reference tool for Local Council Courts and community leaders handling land disputes, family matters, and other issues that require mediation and lawful resolution.
Leaders in Bufumbo Sub-county and Jewa Town Council welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that will improve service delivery, enhance legal awareness, and promote peaceful coexistence among community members.
By placing legal knowledge in the hands of local leaders and citizens in a language they understand, the institution is helping build a more informed, empowered, and united Bugisu.