Law
S&L Advocates Donates All England Law Reports (1936 – 2020) to School of Law
S&L Advocates (formerly Sebalu & Lule Advocates) has donated a full set of All England Law Reports (1936-2020) to the School of Law (SoL), Makerere University. The reports were handed over at a colourful ceremony held on Friday, 18th March 2022 to celebrate 40 years since S&L Advocates was established. Mr. Barnabas Tumusingize (Managing Partner, S&L Advocates) handed over the donation to Prof. Christopher Mbazira (Principal, School of Law) who was accompanied by a delegation of students led by Mr. Percy Mpindi (President, Makerere Law Society).
The Master of Ceremony, Mr. Andrew Kamuteera Munanura (Partner, S&L Advocates) welcomed the SoL delegation to the S&L Advocates premises encouraging all present to feel comfortable and enjoy the evening. He introduced Partners and Staff of S&L explaining that the celebration should have taken place in 2020, however, it had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Munanura expressed his hope that this visit and celebration would serve as an inspiration to the students who were given a tour of the S&L Chambers as well as an interactive session with the Managing Partner and staff. He further said that S&L was happy to give back to Makerere University, SoL where many of the advocates had studied.
In his remarks, Mr. Barnabas Tumusingize (Managing Partner, S&L Advocates), welcomed the SoL delegation to the S&L Chambers and thanked them for accepting the invitation. He thanked the SoL for the nurturing during their time as students and appreciated that many of the advocates at the chambers were alumni of Makerere University, SoL. ‘It is my belief that the School has changed, but we have fond memories of our stay at Makerere. I completed my studies in 1988 and those were hard times but we received knowledge’, Mr. Tumusingize said. He further thanked SoL for continuing to pass out students that they employ and or host for clerkship during their training.
Speaking to the students, Mr. Tumusingize encouraged them to work hard, be patient and avoid instant gratification. He advised that excellence is about hard work, patience and serious effort. ‘Don’t look at senior counsels and think that their achievements are going to come to you soon; invest time, be trustworthy and integrity must be maintained towards clients and colleagues’ Mr. Tumusingize further advised. He recognized the forward thinking by the founders of S&L Advocates, Mr. Paulo Sebalu and Mr. Godfrey Serunkuuma Lule who established the chambers in 1980 and set a strong foundation which has enabled the firm to grow from strength to strength 42years since its establishment.
Receiving the donation, Prof. Christopher Mbazira thanked S&L for the donation which will greatly support teaching and learning. He expressed his pleasure and that of SoL to join S&L Advocates at this celebration. He commended Mr. Tumusingize and S&L for the support to SoL and proposals on how to improve given to the School. ‘As an institution Makerere University has been eager to seek out alumni, know what they are doing and see how to collaborate going forward’, he said. He explained that it is symbolic that Makerere University is celebrating 100years this year, SoL celebrated 50years in 2019 and S&L Advocates is celebrating 40years. Prof. Mbazira congratulated S&L Advocates noting that it is no mean achievement for a firm in the global south especially Africa, where most institutions are wound up with the retirement or demise of their founders.
He noted that ‘In many instances, big multinational law firms engage in franchise like practice conscripting national law firms with talent to become their concierge, yet S&L has proven that it is possible for talented lawyers in global south to build a practice that competes with that of international firms establishing networks and partnerships as equals’. Prof. Mbazira further said ‘S&L has made a name for their ethical legal practice and professionalism exhibited in their work and service, proving that it is possible to be successful while practicing ethically’. I do envy the young lawyers who intern or undertake their clerkship and associates who start their practice at S&L which gives them a good foundation he noted.
Sharing his experience when he meets senior lawyers, Prof. Mbazira said ‘some thank us for the work of holding the school together, commending the innovations and offering suggestions on what can be improved however others question the quality of legal education offered referencing some of the students/lawyers they interact with’. The Principal suggested that the quality of any industry is a reflection of how much the industry has invested in training young people aspiring to join the industry. He emphasized that it is pertinent that practicing lawyers and law schools work together to improve the legal industry. It is our hope that the move by S&L to support Makerere University. SoL is only the beginning for further collaboration between academia and legal practice. The SoL will reach out more to alumni and advocates for collaboration.
In his closing remarks, Mr. James Mukasa Sebugenyi (Senior Partner, S&L Advocates) said ‘if you are not a good example, you are a horrible warning and work for a cause not applause’. Mr. Mukasa explained that he hopes that in giving this donation S&L serves as a good example encouraging the students to always give back and always challenge themselves to serve as good examples.
Law
China-Africa Forum for Law School Deans ends with Partners’ committing to enhanced collaboration
On 5th November 2024, Law School Deans, Academicians, researchers and students from Africa and China met at School of Law (SoL), Makerere University in Kampala Uganda for the 6th China-Africa Forum for Law School Deans. The Forum themed, ‘Legal Guarantee and Educational Support for High-Quality Development of China-Africa’ was hosted by SoL in partnership with Renmin University of China and Xiangtan University, China.
This forum was proposed at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in 2021 in Dakar, Senegal, The resultant Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024) explicitly proposed to support holding the China-Africa Forum of Law School Deans to among other things: encourage and assist China-Africa Universities in jointly building China-Africa legal research centres; training of legal professionals; and promoting China-Africa exchanges and cooperation for legal knowledge and legal talents.
In his remarks, Dr. Ronald Naluwairo – Associate Professor and Principal, SoL welcomed participants to SoL, Makerere University and Uganda. ‘SoL opened its doors in 1968 and has grown into one of the greatest schools of law in Africa and enjoys global recognition for its work’, he said. He thanked Xiangtan University, China with who Makerere has a memorandum of understanding for the collaboration that started in 2014 and introducing the other partners present. He expressed hope that at the end of the meeting, tangible areas of collaboration supporting social justice will be defined for the partners; and a compilation of a report of the papers presented for knowledge transfer and policy development.
Professor Henry Alinaitwe – Deputy Vice Chancellor/Finance & Administration, Makerere University represented the Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe. He welcomed participants and encouraged them to tour Uganda, Pearl of Africa before departure for an appreciation of Uganda’s beauty. ‘Teaching of the law can contribute to social transformation of our people in Africa and China. This is therefore an important platform for discussion improvements in legal education for both Africa and China’, he said. Professor Alinaitwe thanked the partners for choosing Makerere to host and hoped for productive, enlightening deliberations during the forum which will lead to enhancement of the collaboration.
The forum was officially opened by His Excellency, Ambassador Zhang Lizhong – Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uganda. Ambassador Lizhong expressed pleasure at seeing the participants from China and Africa in the room to support the China-Africa collaborations which have built synergy with multiple plans and strategies. He explained that in Uganda alone, China continues to export promotion, infrastructure development (roads, dams, and airport) among others. He noted that there has been an increase of people exchange between China and Africa and it is therefore important that the nations understand better the legal setups for better collaboration and development mutually beneficial to all. ‘I thank Makerere for the support of the collaboration and I hope to see development of legal research centres as outlined in the Accra Action Plan’ the ambassador noted.
Presentations by participants through the day culminated into proposal of the following as key issues for further consideration and development:
- Recognition that legal education and legal exchanges are essential foundations of friendly cooperation between China and Africa and the China-Africa Forum of Law School Deans is an effective platform to promote the cooperation. The Forum will therefore be held regularly.
- Expand the scope, enhance effectiveness and impact of the Forum.
- Establish exchange mechanisms to promote cooperation, including joint international conferences and co-publish academic journals.
- Encourage law teachers’ research cooperation among faculty to improve research quality and facilitate mutual visits.
- Promote friendly exchanges among young legal professionals, providing support for their studies and exchanges at partner institutions
- Collaborate of developing educational programmes, including courses on comparative studies of China-African legal systems.
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