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Ms. Caroline Adoch: First Female Doctor of Laws (LL.D) of Makerere University Recipient

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Dr. Caroline Adoch was awarded a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) yesterday, Monday 23rd May, 2022 during the first day of Makerere University’s 72nd Graduation Ceremony. Dr. Adoch became the first female to be awarded a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) of Makerere University in the institution’s100 year history. Her doctoral thesis was titled ‘Access to Gender Justice in Uganda: A Feminist Analysis of Experiences of Rape victims in the Reporting and Prosecution processes’’. She was supervised by Professor Sylvia Tamale and Professor Christopher Mbazira. Dr. Adoch shared her background, experiences and inspiration in an interview and highlights are captured below.

Q: Who is Caroline Adoch?

A: I am a Ugandan female; I work at Makerere University School of Law as an Assistant Lecturer. I joined the Makerere University Service in 2012 as a Teaching Assistant. My education background: I attended primary school at St. Agnes Catholic Girls’ Boarding Primary School Naggalama, Uganda; Secondary school at Mount St. Mary’s Namagunga (emerged as national best student in her year for A’Level exams). Attended University of Dar es Salaam for Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) graduating as best student of my class 2004-2007. I was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study for a Master of Laws (LL.M) at University of Cambridge, United Kingdom from 2009-2010.

Q: What inspired you to study Law?

A: I have always wanted to be a lawyer as far as I can remember. However, I almost missed the calling; my Dad passed on the first day of my O level exams.   I didn’t want to give my guardians the burden of paying tuition for a four-year course. My only hope to access University education was through government sponsorship. I wasn’t sure I would qualify for Law. I therefore applied for a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration with a belief that I would qualify for the programme on government sponsorship.

 When results were released I was the best student; I was admitted to study Social Work and Social Administration at Makerere University. However, because I also qualified for change of programme to LL. B, I applied to change programme of study. The in-charge in the Academic Registrar’s Office advised that I qualified for the Inter University Council for East Africa exchange programme. I applied and was admitted to study LL. B at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and here we are. Laughs!

Q: What was your experience completing your Doctorate at Makerere University while teaching?

A: I joined Makerere University as a Teaching Assistant in 2012 because that was the only available opening. With support of the then Director of HURPEC Professor Joe Oloka Onyango, I was shortly promoted to Assistant Lecturer.  I have taught courses including Human Rights, Public International Law, Administrative Law and Constitutional Law.

A couple of years ago I was offered a scholarship to study for a Doctor of Laws in Canada but I decided to stay at Makerere University. Why? I always tell people the School of Law is a good Law School with a great faculty, so why not me.

It’s been a challenge though, considering the student numbers that we teach and the scripts for marking. Creating a balance between teaching and studying calls for commitment. I wish to thank my supervisors and Doctoral Committee for the support through my journey. I also take this opportunity to thank Prof. Sylvia Tamale who was my main supervisor for the mentorship and encouragement. Prof. Tamale was so committed and supportive.

I sponsored myself which is quite expensive but I am happy I managed to do. I also thank Makerere University for the one-year tuition waiver. I think more years could have been given but the process to get the waiver approved is challenging.

Q: Why did you decide to study rape?

A: It is my conviction that rape is a big issue for women and girls. The fear of rape defines so many parameters of the lives of women and girls. When girls are young, we are warned about sitting, movements and company with the male because of the worry for parents regarding safety for the girl-child against sexual abuse and violence. Girls and women bear a huge responsibility and shame when they are raped. I therefore felt it was not only an interesting study area but also important.

Q: Do you have any advice for the girl child and the Makerere University?

A: To the University, I wish to say, at 100 years we shouldn’t be talking about ‘firsts’ in terms of opportunities. As an institution providing an enabling environment and opportunities for women should be intentional.

To students and more especially the girl child, I genuinely believe academic excellence matters; the class of degree awarded is very important. Always strive for the best, remain focused and work hard, be imaginative, have dreams and visions even when the odds seem impossible.

Q: What next?

A: I look forward to paying forward the support from my supervisors and colleagues through this journey; this I hope to do through supervising other doctoral students. It is good that while I was the first female to complete the Doctor of Laws at Makerere University School of Law, many are currently registered and more will graduate in the coming years.

“A historical note from today, upon graduation Dr. Adoch will be the first woman to earn the Doctor of Laws of Makerere University School of Law”

~ Dr. Busingye Kabumba on twitter after Carol had defended her Doctor of Laws thesis

Zaam Ssali

Law

China-Africa Forum for Law School Deans ends with Partners’ committing to enhanced collaboration

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H.E. Amb. Zhang Lizhong and Prof. Henry Alinaitwe (Centre) with Law School Deans, Academicians, researchers and students from Africa and China on 5th November 2024. Law School Deans, Academicians, researchers and students from Africa and China met on 5th November 2024 at School of Law (SoL), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda for the 6th China-Africa Forum for Law School Deans, Uganda, East Africa.

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.

The Principal SoL, Assoc. Prof. Ronald Naluwairo. Law School Deans, Academicians, researchers and students from Africa and China met on 5th November 2024 at School of Law (SoL), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda for the 6th China-Africa Forum for Law School Deans, Uganda, East Africa.
The Principal SoL, Assoc. Prof. Ronald Naluwairo.

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 – Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor/Finance & Administration. Law School Deans, Academicians, researchers and students from Africa and China met on 5th November 2024 at School of Law (SoL), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda for the 6th China-Africa Forum for Law School Deans, Uganda, East Africa.
Professor Henry Alinaitwe – Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor/Finance & Administration.

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.

His Excellency, Ambassador Zhang Lizhong – Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uganda. Law School Deans, Academicians, researchers and students from Africa and China met on 5th November 2024 at School of Law (SoL), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda for the 6th China-Africa Forum for Law School Deans, Uganda, East Africa.
His Excellency, Ambassador Zhang Lizhong.

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Expand the scope, enhance effectiveness and impact of the Forum.
  3. Establish exchange mechanisms to promote cooperation, including joint international conferences and co-publish academic journals.
  4. Encourage law teachers’ research cooperation among faculty to improve research quality and facilitate mutual visits.
  5. Promote friendly exchanges among young legal professionals, providing support for their studies and exchanges at partner institutions
  6. Collaborate of developing educational programmes, including courses on comparative studies of China-African legal systems.

Zaam Ssali

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Law

Call for Papers – East African Journal of Peace and Human Rights

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Part of the audience at the Makerere Law Journal (MLJ), Symposium held at the School of Law, Makerere University on 17th June 2022. Photo credit: MLJ. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The East African Journal for Peace and Human Rights (EAJPHR) is an international, peer-reviewed, bi-annual scholarly publication of the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC) at the School of Law, Makerere University. The Journal has since its inception in 1993 remained at the forefront of igniting intellectual and policy debates on contemporary governance and human rights issues in the East African region and beyond. It seeks to provide a platform to scholars, researchers and practitioners in the fields of governance and human rights to disseminate cutting-edge research and share knowledge and experiences.

This call invites students, scholars, researchers, and development practitioners to submit papers for our forthcoming Issue. The papers should highlight recent trends, practices and emerging issues impacting on governance, constitutionalism, human rights and fundamental freedoms, with a view to produce a critical assessment of the same within the region and beyond.

Interested authors should submit their papers electronically to: journal.huripec@mak.ac.ug.

Important Dates:

Submission deadline: 6th September 2024
Notification of the reviewers’ decision: 20th September 2024

Submission Guidelines:

The papers should be submitted as word document, along with abstracts not exceeding 150 words and information pertaining to the author(s) (i.e., name of author, qualifications, profession, workplace/institution of placement, and contact email).

Submissions should be original contributions in the form of articles, comments, case notes, book reviews – all related to important developments on a wide range of issues relating to law, human rights, peace and conflict, and governance.

Articles should be an average length of 10,000 words (i.e., 20 pages). Comments and case notes should normally be shorter, between 4,000 and 6,000 words (i.e., 8-12 pages). Book reviews should be even shorter, at no more than 3,000 words (i.e., 6 pages).

Any enquiries about this call should be sent to journal.huripec@mak.ac.ug.

Zaam Ssali

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General

Mature Age Admission List under Private Sponsorship 2024/25

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Freedom Sq. with Main Building in the background.

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists for Mature Age Entry applicants admitted under the Private Sponsorship Scheme for the Academic Year 2023/2024.

The lists can be accessed by following the links below:

Mak Editor

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