NETWORK OF PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYERS

The Network of Public Interest Lawyers Limited (NETPIL) was formed in 2015 by Prof. Christopher Mbazira, Dr. Atim Patricia, Dr. Walyemera Daniel and Mr. Arthur Nsereko as a network organisation bringing together lawyers and organizations with a view of undertaking and promoting Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and the pro-bono spirit in order to achieve social justice for vulnerable sections of society in Uganda. From Inception until 2022, NETPIL operated under the auspice of the Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC) of the School of Law at Makerere University. At the end of 2022, NETPIL’s members at its Genera; Meeting passed a resolution to have the organization set up autonomy from PILAC and likewise acquire NGO status to enable it carry out its objectives more meaningfully. The principal stages that NETPIL has been through are as follows: 2014 - Idea Generation and Conceptualisation • NETPIL founding members mooted the idea to form the entity to foster PIL in Uganda. 2015 - Formalisation • NETPIL was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. • PILAC agreed to host NETPIL. • NETPIL acquired funding and begun its operations. 2022- Going Autonomous • NETPIL set up separate offices, structures and activities outside the PILAC setting. 2023 – Pursuing NGO status • NETPIL embarked on the process of acquiring NGO status and permission. 2. ACHIEVEMENTS What have been the principal results in the past three years that contribute to significant, structural, sustained and positive improvement in the lives of men, women, girls and boys suffering from poverty, injustice, insecurity and exclusion? NETPIL has filed numerous PIL cases through its membership that have fostered democracy and good governance in Uganda. Most notable is the case of James Muhindo and Ors Vs Attorney General that culminated into the development of Land Eviction Guidelines. NETPIL has likewise produced various research publications including four handbooks on litigating thematic areas like land, education, torture among others. NETPIL has conducted trainings for capacity building of its members to beforerunners in the protection of human rights and civic space in Uganda. To this it has carried out rapid response for victims of torture and journalists suffering violations in the course of duty. 3. INSTITUTIONAL PURPOSE Mission: NETPIL’s Mission is to support and promote Public Interest Litigation in Uganda. Institutional objectives: The Objectives of NETPIL are to: i. Build and nurture social justice lawyers; ii. Enhance the capacity of its members to engage in public interest lawyering, and more specifically social justice; iii. Create awareness of public interest lawyering as an effective strategy to promote social justice and to better understand and litigate on emerging public interest law issues; iv. Promote the rule of law, respect for human rights, good governance and democracy through research, litigation, sensitization, dialogue and advocacy; v. Promote and pursue strategic litigation throughinstituting cases on topical constitutional law, human rights, social justice and corporate accountability matters; vi. Promote public interest related advocacy including creating public awareness through mobilization and capacity building ofstakeholders, stakeholder engagements and media engagement among others; vii. Coordinate evidence-based research aimed at supporting the network‘s strategic interventions including academic scholarship, advocacy, and litigation among others; viii. Act as a support and coordination mechanism for public interest lawyers and related initiatives; ix. Establish and support NETPIL University Chapters aimed at mentoring students of law to become proficient advocates for social justice and public interest lawyering; x. Strengthen strategic relationships with Development partners for purposes of resource mobilization and sustainability of NETPIL‘s objectives; and xi. Raise funds, acquire, own, develop and operate premises, property, equipment, and any other materials, goods and services that are necessary for the attainment of the mission and vision set out in this Memorandum of Association. Field(s) of activity: What are the principal thematic and geographic areas in which the organisation works? The principal thematic areas of NETPIL are; • Civil and Political Rights; • Disability Rights; • Education Rights; • Health Rights; • Labour Rights; and • Land and Natural Resources. . The geographic area for its work is nation-wide. However, largely its operations have been in the Districts of Kampala, Mukono, Mubende, Moroto and Jinja. Who are the social actors that benefit from the work? The social actors that benefit from NETPIL’s work are mainly vulnerablesections of society including, women, youth, PWDs, minority groups and migrant populations. 4. STRATEGIC POSITIONING Analyse the environment in which the organisation works? Who are the other relevant social actors, including government and business, and what roles do they play? ' In this context, what is unique about the position of the organisation? NETPIL operates in an environment in which the state is constantly clamping down on civic space and participation in a bid to foster regime survival. This is often characterised by surveillances, arrests of actors, office break ins, illegal detentions of actors among others. NETPIL’s strategic advantagelies in working through a membership of lawyers and legal service providers. Its members possess various competence and expertise in the field of law and likewise have legal protection as advocates under attorney privilege to carry out their trade without threatsfrom the state. Likewise, NETPIL has built synergies and collaborations both with state and non-state actors to cover possible deficiencies in its capacities. These include institutions of learning, CSO’s and legal aid service providers. These offer both pathways for its work and a referral network. 5. FUNCTIONAL ORGANISATIONAL CHART include below your organisational chart) How are authority and responsibilities structured? For each operational unit, indicate the job titles, number of people in each position, and if they are men or women. NETPIL STRUCTURES NETPIL BOARD MEMBERS 7 Members with 4 women and 3 men

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