The School of Law has been commended for their efforts in offering free legal services to the most needy communities surrounding Makerere University.

The community leaders drawn from Kikoni, Kivulu, Kasokoso and Kikubamutwe were beneficiaries of the three-day training for paralegals held from 18th to 20th November, 2020 at the Grand Global Hotel. It was organized by the Legal Aid Unit with support from the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF).

While presiding over the closing of the training, the Ag. Principal, Prof. Christopher Mbazira commended the team at the Legal Aid Unit of the School of Law for demystifying the ivory tower syndrome through working closely with the communities that benefit from the legal services offered by the unit.  He said through such efforts, the relations between Makerere University and the surrounding communities had improved over time.

He said the training covered subjects like the landlord and tenant relations that affect people on a day-to-day basis with a focus on the law and what pertains to it. He urged the participants to utilize the knowledge acquired to help their respective communities.

Prof. Mbazira said the interactions with the communities has been beneficial to law students since it offers a learning exposure through real life issues that shape their appreciation of the law.

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By Harriet Musinguzi

Pioneer students in the pilot Business Law Clinic that has been running at the School of Law, Makerere University have called for more opportunities for practical exposures in the teaching and learning of Law. They also called for an increase in the number of students in order to benefit a wider group given the proven opportunities experienced to-date.

During the learning and reflection meeting held at Piato Restaurant on Wednesday 28^th October 2020, the students applauded the Principal Investigator Dr. Phiona Muhwezi Mpanga and the entire team on the program for their selfless energies in the running of the student-led program.

‘My best experience was interacting with clients, real people, with real issues, the information sessions that introduced me to concepts that I never knew, writing and coming up with documents that I never knew’, it was something new, the assignments were drawn from new areas and this made me eager to undertake them’.  said Margaret while explaining how she had benefited from the program.

Abbas Luyombya, a student with sight disability while giving his experience of the program said he got exposed to real life issues that opened his perspectives, citing the struggles of refugees and prostitutes and their effort towards redefining themselves and starting life all over. He said through community outreaches, he got the opportunity to appreciate class differences, and how people are affected by the law due to ignorance as well as the gaps between law, policy and actual implementation.  He said his best experience was in the area of business registration.

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Dr. Winnie Tarinyeba was inducted as a Fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences on 23rd October 2020 by the President of the Academy, Professor Peter Mugyenyi.

She was nominated by Prof. D.J Bakibinga, with Professor Emmanuel Kasimbazi as seconder.  She becomes the fifth member of School of Law to be inducted after Prof. D.J Bakibinga, Professor Kasimbazi, Professor Mbazira and Dr. Mayambala.

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