Three years ago, BarefootLaw took a significant step toward bridging the justice gap in rural Uganda by establishing a BarefootLaw Box. In one of the host communities of our BarefootLaw Boxes, one of the most pressing issues was the prevalence of mob justice—a stark manifestation of the community’s lost faith in formal justice institutions.
BarefootLaw is a nonprofit which believes that for a society to thrive, people must be able to fully exercise and enjoy their rights. As an organization dedicated to providing free legal information and assistance, our mission is to offer accessible legal services to help people resolve their legal issues.
I vividly recall an incident two years ago that highlighted both the challenges we face and the impact we can have. Two suspected robbers were fleeing from an angry mob intent on delivering their form of justice. Just 500 meters from our BarefootLaw Box, a man who had attended one of our community sensitization sessions recognized the perilous situation. Determined to prevent bloodshed, he pushed through the crowd and shouted, “BarefootLaw says mob justice is illegal! These people should be taken to the police station instead!” His courageous intervention created enough confusion for the suspects to escape and seek refuge at the police station.
This act was a turning point. Since then, instances of mob justice in that community have significantly decreased. The community began to engage more in conflict resolution and worked collaboratively with local leaders. Our continuous efforts in educating the community played a crucial role in this positive shift. People started to see the value in allowing the legal system to function as intended, rather than taking matters into their own hands.
However, recent events have shown that our work is far from over. On a Sunday over two weeks ago, a suspected murderer was arrested and brought to the police station. The community, still haunted by a similar case a year prior where a suspect was mysteriously released, feared that justice would once again be denied. Frustration and distrust boiled over. A crowd overwhelmed the police officers on duty, extracted the suspect from custody, and executed mob justice right there at the police station. Afterward, the perpetrators dispersed, leaving behind a stark reminder of the fragility of law and order in the area.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for deeper community engagement and the restoration of faith in justice institutions. It also highlights the crucial role that digital technology can play in such contexts. In rural and hard-to-reach communities, access to timely and accurate legal information is often limited. BarefootLaw leverages digital platforms—such as mobile phone calls, messaging services, and online resources—to disseminate legal knowledge widely. By providing digital access to legal guidance, we empower individuals to understand their rights and the proper legal channels to address grievances.
Figure 1A typical BarefootLaw session, where lawyers dial into the remote offices to connect & educate communities on the law.
Figure 2A typical BarefootLaw session, where lawyers dial into the remote offices to connect & educate communities on the law.
This technological approach breaks down geographical barriers and reaches people who might otherwise remain disconnected from formal legal systems.
Our experiences illustrate that access to justice must go beyond conferences, reports, and data collection. Each data point represents a human life, a story, or a community affected by the shortcomings of the system. The work of BarefootLaw is more critical than ever, especially in hard-to-reach communities where the gap between the people and the law is widest.
How can you act?
Communities must take an active role in legal education by attending community sensitisation sessions and sharing legal knowledge with neighbours. As shown above, a single informed community member was able to prevent mob justice by speaking up about legal alternatives.
Leaders at all levels in the justice sphere must prioritize transparency and accountability in local justice institutions to rebuild community trust. The article highlights how a previous case of a suspect’s mysterious release led to distrust and eventually mob justice, showing the critical need for consistent and transparent legal processes.
Development partners must invest in digital justice infrastructure (like BarefootLaw Boxes) and mobile technology solutions that can bridge the geographical barriers to legal services in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The article emphasizes how digital platforms have been crucial in disseminating legal information widely.
There is an imperative need to bolster access to justice in these areas. By continuing to educate, empower, and engage with communities—both through traditional methods and innovative digital technologies—we can foster a culture of trust and reliance on formal legal institutions. It’s a challenging journey, fraught with obstacles, but the potential for positive change is immense. We call upon all stakeholders—government agencies, non-profits, community leaders, and individuals—to join us in this mission. Together, we can make justice not just an ideal, but a lived reality for everyone, no matter where they are.