11 April 2025, UGANDA | This semester, the Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute (HRI) traveled to Uganda to work alongside educators and lawyers to train 70 law students in trial monitoring.

HRI partnered with the Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC) at Makerere University School of Law—an institution dedicated to training students in public interest law and hands-on legal practice—and the Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET), a prominent organization in Uganda that strengthens access to legal aid and supports legal service providers. Both partners joined forces under the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s (CFJ) TrialWatch initiative to promote fair trial standards and enhance legal education around the world. 

“This training was a great opportunity for our students to engage directly with fair trial standards in practice,” said Professor Christopher Mbazira, Coordinator of PILAC. “Collaborations like this equip students with the necessary skills to critically assess justice systems and advocate for human rights.”

All around the world, rights to a fair trial are violated. Those speaking out are especially at risk of unfair trials. To protect rights, HRI works with The Clooney Foundation for Justice, and its TrialWatch Initiative, to monitor trials, advocate for reforms, and train the next-generation of human rights lawyers. 

The training in Uganda, which included sessions on basic and advanced trial monitoring, provided 70 students with hands-on experience, including learning to objectively document and analyze court proceedings for potential human rights violations. Ten specially selected clinic students will then apply the training in real-world legal settings, identifying proceedings of interest, attending hearings and taking transcripts to identify violations of fair trial rights. With the information collected from monitoring, students will deepen their learning to co-create advocacy projects. 

“Fighting for the rights of the unfairly accused inspires students’ sense of accountability and passion for justice,” said Tejal Jesrani, Director of the TrialWatch project at CLS HRI. “We are so excited to see their impact.” 

“Working with the next generation of human rights lawyers to advance the rule of law and tackle systemic unfairness is integral to CFJ’s mission to defend the rights of those persecuted simply for speaking out,” said Stephen Townley, Legal Director of the TrialWatch initiative at the Clooney Foundation for Justice.   

A key partner in this initiative, LASPNET, has played a critical role in identifying cases and providing mentorship to participants. Their expertise in access to justice and legal aid contributed to the program’s impact and sustainability. 

“We are proud to support this effort in ensuring that trial monitoring becomes a cornerstone of legal education and practice in Uganda,” said Sylvia Namubiru, Executive Director of LASPNET. “This partnership strengthens our collective ability to address fair trial violations and enhance access to justice and rule of law.”

TrialWatch’s clinical network is planning further expansion this spring. We also plan this year to bring together all partners to exchange experiences and lessons learned as well as engage in further training. 

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The program is part of HRI’s broader mission to promote accountability and access to justice through legal education and advocacy. By collaborating with universities and civil society organizations, HRI supports efforts to uphold human rights worldwide. 

For more information about HRI TrialWatch Project, please visit https://hri.law.columbia.edu/our-work/equality-and-justice/trialwatch-project. For more on CFJ’s global work, visit https://cfj.org/trialwatch.