
In the old days, lawyers looked up cases in leatherbound books and wrote lengthy briefs by hand. Legal representation was just for people who could afford it, or for those who were charged with a crime and then assigned a public defender. Today, thanks to technology, so much has changed—even in Uganda, where our nonprofit partner BarefootLaw is extending legal services to people in rural, unconnected communities. Their work is especially helpful to women, who need to understand their rights regarding property ownership and domestic violence.
Thanks to our friends at Draper Richards Kaplan who introduced us to Gerald Abila, the founder and executive director of BarefootLaw, we’ve been investing in them since 2021. We started by funding the startup technology that got their legal services program off the ground. Our latest commitment—to be paid over over three years — will fund their fourth portable, solar-powered LawBox location. It’s been especially gratifying to see how this project has been scalable across Uganda. Since 2012, they’ve served more than a million people in Uganda alone. Their ambitious goal is to make justice and the law readily accessible to 50 million people across Africa by 2030.
In addition to the LawBox, MFF’s funding will support building out the solar microgrid that enables Barefoot Law to reach more rural communities with legal help. The grid will also provide power to critically needed places in the community, such as at the markets, the police, and other shared community centers.
MFF’s 2025 installment will fund the physical buildout of their fourth solar-powered container where clients and legal professionals can meet privately and safely. Funding in 2026 and 2027 will ensure they have the trained staff they need to provide legal services once the LawBox is ready to welcome visitors.
Carrie Morgridge said, “John and I believe that home ownership is the greatest equalizer for wealth gain, besides a great education. BarefootLaw helps people who have no access to attorneys or advice. Our grant will impact over one million people over a short period of time. This project proves, yet again, that when used properly, technology can be a driving force for good.”
While 94 percent of Uganda’s population lives in rural areas, the majority of lawyers are based in the capital city of Kampala. To make up for the gap, BarefootLaw trains local leaders as mediators and shows them how to access BarefootLaw’s services for their communities. As BarefootLaw replicates their LawBox model and reaches distant clients virtually, their impact continues to grow exponentially.
Read more about BarefootLaw’s leadership here and watch their video here.