Law
School of Law Orients Fresh Men & Women
The School of Law organized a freshers’ orientation meeting on Wednesday 2nd February, 2022 to create a sense of belonging among the new students at the School.
Established in 1968, initially as a Department of the Faculty of Social Sciences, the School was later in 1971 given independence as a Faculty and when Makerere University adopted the collegiate system, it became a semi-autonomous college. According to the Principal Prof. Christopher Mbazira, until recently, the School occupied special status as the only School of Law at a public university, “we now have Gulu as the second and the other schools are private” he said.
The School of Law was the only lawyer-training facility in Uganda since its founding in 1968 until 2000 when other universities established faculties of law. The school has five teaching departments, in addition to the units that engage in research like the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), doing research and advocacy, in the area of human rights; and the Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC). The Refugee Law Project addresses issues of refugees and immigration; Law, Gender and Sexuality research project addresses sexuality issues; the Disability Law and Rights Centre (DLRC) promotes and protects disability rights; as well as many other smaller research projects.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ronald Naluwairo, the Deputy Principal, School of Law, welcomed the fresh men and women to the school. “We are here to inspire you and give you guidance on the basics and key things to excel in your academic career”, he said.
Dr. Naluwairo introduced to students the rigorous nature of the the Bachelors of Law Programme, and encouraged them to have competence as a minimum requirement for the programme. The Deputy Principal also promised students a session where the School Registrar will introduce the rules and regulations governing the programme in detail. He called upon the fresh men and women to always consult the registrars in instances where the rules seemed unclear.
In his remarks, Prof. Mbazira congratulated the students upon passing the pre-entry exams and joining the group of special people with special alumni. “So many people are interested in doing this course, and so when one passes the pre-entry exam, it gives us the confidence that you will pass through the course” he said.
Prof. Mbazira introduced to students a magazine produced during the School of Law at 50 Years of existence celebrations in 2018, with information on the history of the school, some of the people that have gone through the school and the various things done.
“I want to state that you have started a process of transformation from students to lawyers and this is will enable you join the noble legal profession. Traditionally, we have three professions, that’s law, medicine and religion. By joining the noble legal profession, you are bound by professional ethics and the code of conduct that governs members of that profession” said Prof. Mbazira.
He also urged students to be honest, smart, hardworking as well as give back to the community as an obligation that comes with being a member of the noble profession. “The nature of the programme is rigorous, it requires commitment, focus and it is the application of approaches used to pass S.6 exams.”
Prof. Mbazira emphasised the need for students to read extensively as a requirement by the profession, “You can’t do a case unless you read, you can’t provide legal advise unless you read. Lawyers do a lot of constant reading, but one important thing is that once lawyers graduate, you can’t get another solid four years of reading so the four years is a golden chance for you to read.
“You may not realize that during the four years of reading the knowledge you acquire is going to help you at a certain stage. It may not help you to pass exams but helps to shape you as a lawyer, it helps to give you knowledge that you will later grow on; to represent clients, provide legal advice, to be a legislator and so forth” he added.
The Principal urged the new students to take advantage of the fact that, Makerere has the best faculty, prominent legal academics with experience both within and outside Uganda and the best law library in the country.
“The law profession is diverse, I know what most of you have is that a lawyer is some one who goes to court or seats as a judge, but you are going to discover that the legal profession is so rich that graduates of this school have done so many things including: legal practitioners, judges and magistrates, judicature, state attorneys in various capacities, lawyers of the state, prosecuting cases, giving legal advise and guiding approaches in the legislative processes, providing legal service to corporate entities, private companies, public companies, some working as company secretaries, public interest litigation among others. The legal profession is a profession that enables you to work anywhere, lawyers can work in a hospital because hospitals give legal advise, they have corporate matters that require lawyers to advice on” elaborated the Principal.
Prof. Mbazira concluded by warning students against becoming victims of self destructive behaviour. “Not everybody who attends this orientation attends the graduation ceremony due to both natural and man-made causes. Students tend to block their opportunities. I, the Deputy Principal and Heads of Department have an open door policy, and so does the Students leadership, don’t hesitate to contact us”.
Students were also availed the various IT student support portals including: answers.mak.ac.ug, student.mak.ac.ug, admissions.mak.ac.ug and support.mak.ac.ug among others for IT-related assistance.
A team of staff from the Counseling and Guidance Centre led by the Manager Mr. Henry Nsubuga oriented the students on the need for both psychological and mental health while in school. “We are here today but we don’t know what might befall us, tragedy can befall us at any time that’s why the university provides counseling and guidance services. Students should avoid postponing seeking help for whatever issues they may have.”
The Makerere Law Society (MLS) President, Mr. Mpindi Percy welcomed the new students. He noted that the society was formed in 1971 to represent students interests, and unveiled the first ever students’ orientation handbook by the Law Society. The Handbook documents various experiences of current students and alumni of the school. He concluded by encouraging students to always reach out to MLS for assistance.
In her remarks on Sexual harassment, Prof Sylvia Tamale defined the vice as unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or unwanted physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct. “Sexual harassment isn’t rape like most people think, no!”
She added that Makerere University has zero-tolerance for sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment is prohibited for both on and off-campus settings for Students, desk staff, administrative staff, support staff, contractors, visitors and researchers” she explained.
According to Prof. Tamale, beyond rules and policies, African people are guided by one important concept, ‘obuntu – buntubulamu’. She added that African people share a value which speaks to the maxim ‘I am because we are’ which means that you should treat the other the way you would like to be treated (with passion). “African people knew the value before the whites brought the bible.”
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Uganda Law Society (ULS) Mr. Moses Okwalinga shared that the legal profession is a lifetime commitment. “You remain an advocate/lawyer for life. What you have started is not just a career but a lifetime experience which you will pursue even after retirement.”
He urged students to be mindful of the friends they choose since they have an impact on their lives.He asked them to define their values and avoid bad company. “When you hang out with a group, their perception is your perception. This course gives you so much confidence but what you do with what you learn is very important. Remember that u came here alone. How you use what you learn is very key; the bad name will follow you all through” he said.
Prof. Ronald Mayambala, from the Department of Environmental Law urged students to honor the timetable, attend class, and avoid things that will put them in trouble either by bad company or wrong association. “Excessive politics may not be compatible with your studies, becoming religious fanatics is not good. Always balance.”
Makerere University School of Law has hosted the Chief Justice of the Republic of Zambia, Hon. Justice Dr. Mumba Malila, who paid a courtesy call on 15th June 2026 during his official visit to Uganda to assume leadership of the African Chief Justices’ Forum on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Justice Malila was accompanied by the Chief Justice of Uganda, Hon. Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, and a delegation from Zambian Judiciary. During the visit, the Zambian Chief Justice engaged with faculty members and students at School of Law and later paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe.
Justice Malila’s visit to Uganda followed his succession of retired Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo of Uganda, who was founding Chairperson of the African Chief Justices’ ADR Forum. The Forum’s Secretariat is based in Kampala, making Uganda the venue for the formal handover of leadership and instruments of authority.
Welcoming the delegation to Makerere, the Dean of the School of Law, Prof. Ronald Naluwairo, congratulated Justice Malila on assuming the continental leadership role and pledged the School’s support towards advancing Alternative Dispute Resolution across Africa.
“As the premier Law School in Uganda, we appreciate the importance of ADR in promoting access to justice, expediting the resolution of disputes and enhancing social harmony,” Prof. Naluwairo said. He noted that ADR is now taught as a standalone course in the Bachelor of Laws programme and remains an important area of research within the School.
The Dean also emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between legal academia and the judiciary, proposing formal partnerships between Makerere University School of Law, the Judiciary of Uganda and institutions in Zambia.
In his remarks, Chief Justice Zeija described the visit as a homecoming, recalling his days as a student at Makerere University‘s School of Law. He praised the School for introducing ADR as a standalone course, observing that during his legal training, dispute resolution was largely taught through the lens of litigation.
“Academia plays a critical role in enriching jurisprudence within the judiciary,” Justice Zeija said, citing the contribution of legal scholars to landmark cases and judicial training programmes. He revealed that the Judiciary had already initiated discussions on formalizing collaboration with the School of Law through a Memorandum of Understanding.
Justice Malila, who spent many years teaching at the University of Zambia before joining the judiciary, reflected on the enduring influence of academic life and the pride lecturers feel when they see former students excel in their professions.
“I spent a long time teaching in a law school, and once you have lived the academic life, you always feel a strong connection to universities,” he said.
The Zambian Chief Justice spoke warmly about Makerere University‘s longstanding reputation as one of Africa’s leading institutions of higher learning. Recalling debates from his student days about the “Oxford of Africa,” he said Makerere‘s reputation had been built on decades of academic excellence and the outstanding achievements of its graduates across the continent.
“Makerere possesses the history, reputation, goodwill and intellectual heritage that command respect throughout Africa,” he remarked, urging the University community to continue safeguarding and strengthening its standards.
Justice Malila welcomed Makerere‘s decision to teach ADR as a standalone discipline, describing it as a significant contribution to the Forum’s efforts to promote alternative dispute resolution across Africa.
“One of the objectives of the African Chief Justices’ ADR Forum is to engage universities and colleges in disseminating knowledge and appreciation of ADR. We hope to reach a point where students can enroll specifically to study ADR and graduate as professional ADR practitioners,” he said.
He noted that many legal systems continue to focus heavily on adversarial litigation and stressed the need to prepare future legal professionals for alternative approaches to resolving disputes.
The visit also highlighted the deep historical ties between Makerere University and the legal profession across Africa. During the interaction, Justice Malila revealed that his first academic journal article was published in the East African Journal of Peace and Human Rights following encouragement from a Makerere academic, giving him a personal connection to the University.
At the conclusion of the visit, both Chief Justices emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between universities and judiciaries in advancing legal scholarship, judicial training and access to justice.
The delegation later paid a courtesy call on Makerere University‘s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration, where discussions focused on strengthening academic and professional collaboration between institutions in Uganda and Zambia. The visit reinforced Makerere University School of Law’s position as a leading centre for legal education and research in Africa and underscored the growing role of universities in promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution as an important pillar of access to justice on the continent.
The Public Interest Law (PILAC) held its 13th Clinical Legal Education (CLE) Moot on 14th May 2026 in the Makerere University School of Law (SoL) Moot Court Room. The CLE Moot is one of the clinical activities forming part of the experiential learning approach used by PILAC in its CLE class.
This Moot gives CLE students the opportunity to build their court advocacy skills, including case research and preparation, oratory and case presentation, court etiquette and teamwork, among others. This is in addition to exposing students to emerging areas of law and legal dilemmas that require specialised legal knowledge and talent to resolve. The uniqueness of this Moot lies in the fact that it is presided over by real judges, drawing mainly from the High Court. This is a result of the collaboration between the School of Law and the Judiciary of Uganda.
The Case and Arguments
This year, the theme of the moot was, ‘Rapid Economic Liberalisation and Urban Growth as drivers of inequity, weakened accountability, strained public infrastructure, and conflict between traders and the state’.
The Moot was presided over by a panel of three High Court Judges: Hon. Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, Hon. Justice Isa Serunkuma and Hon. Lady Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha. The moot problem focused on two unique and interrelated issues. First were legal questions around public-private partnerships and the nature of the legal obligations they impose on the state. Second, there were questions about the state’s obligations regarding human rights abuses arising from the actions of private actors under public-private partnership arrangements.
A compelling display of legal advocacy, a mock human rights enforcement petition highlighted the rising tide of climate litigation across Africa, tackling the devastating human toll of environmental disasters and the inadequacy of state responses. The fictional case centred on a catastrophic flood that destroyed local businesses, displaced scores of traders, and tragically claimed the lives of a mother and her infant child.
At the heart of the legal arguments was the state’s defence: a flat-rate compensation package that critics argued barely scratched the surface of the community’s profound losses. The petition cut straight to a definitive and increasingly urgent question facing the African continent: When climate-related disasters hit already vulnerable communities, and the state fails in its constitutional duty to protect the right to a clean and healthy environment, what does the law actually require? The answer put forward by the petitioners was unwavering: the law requires a meaningful, comprehensive remedy—not mere sympathy, and certainly not token payments.
While climate litigation in Africa is still in its infancy, legal scholars note it is growing rapidly out of sheer necessity. As environmental obligations are too often treated by governments as aspirational goals rather than enforceable duties, the courtroom is emerging as a vital arena to bridge the gap between state promises and true accountability.
Highlights of the Competition and Recognition of Best Performers
A total of 30 students participated in the Moot, under three teams: Applicants, Respondents, and Amicus. After weeks of preparations, the students wore their lawyers’ robes and had the chance to appear before the panel of judges, each presenting their arguments in a passionate and eloquent manner.
At the end of the competition, the judges gave their feedback, expressing appreciation for the level of performance and preparedness of the teams. Some were complimented for performing better than some of the advocates who appear before the judges in court. The judges also provided tips and guidance for the purpose of enabling the students to improve their performance.
In his remarks, Professor Christopher Mbazira, the PILAC Coordinator, commended the students for their hard work and appreciated the judges for taking time off their busy court dockets to support the School in skilling the young future legal professionals. Each of the judges was recognised with a plaque of appreciation.
For his exceptional performance, Mayanja Owen was named Best Oralist of the competition. The Amicus team were recognised as the winning team from the presentations. Reflecting on the weight of the subject matter, the participating students expressed deep gratitude to the judging panel, their teammates who shared the immense burden of the case, and the instructors who guided them through weeks of demanding preparations.
-
Law1 week agoMakerere hosts Chief Justices of Zambia and Uganda
-
Agriculture & Environment2 weeks agoMaster’s Scholars Engage Lwengo and Rakai Communities to Inform Research Conceptualisation
-
Research2 weeks agoMakerere University Rolls Out Thesis Completion Grants to Accelerate PhD Research and Strengthen National Policy Impact
-
Health2 weeks agoMakerere Medical Students Honour Their ‘Silent Teachers’
-
Research2 weeks agoMakerere University Charts Course for Responsible AI Adoption in Research Management