1. From: Edwin Mugumya, LLB.IV (MUK)
To: Uganda Law Society
CONCEPT NOTE FOR STUDENTS’ PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UGANDA LAW SOCIETY
BACK GROUND
Law students in the country unite under many umbrellas to wit; The Uganda Law Students’
Society, Makerere Law Society, UCU Law Society, Nkumba Law Society and KIU Law
Society. These students’ societies share common goals such as;
 To breed a generation of lawyers that will be able to address the on ground legal
needs of communities.
 To nurture and inculcate in the law students such cultures, code of conduct and
rules of etiquette as are befitting to the honorable learned profession.
 To provide platforms where the law students will be able to create networks with
lawyers who are already in the field
 To provide opportunities for law students to give back to communities through
activities such as legal aid, and other social responsibilities.
 To assist law students to be internationally-minded and professionally skilled
 To engage in other activities that are incidental to the study of the Law program.
 To create awareness in the students and the general public about good
governance, democracy, justice, human rights and the rule of law, peaceful
resolution of conflicts and a free, fair and tolerant society
In pursuit of the above objectives, students societies under take various activities and
projects such as; academic conferences, public lecture, moot court competitions,
publication of books, magazines, and other academic resources, the global coordination
of student chapter organizations.
THE PARTNERSHIP
The Uganda Law Society bears the vision of excelling as a professional body in the
development of the legal profession and the promotion of justice in Uganda, and
pursues the mission of improving the professional standards of all the members.

2. It is our considered view as Law students that students can play a role or two in
furtherance of the Society’s vision and pursuit of the mission. We suggest forth the
following way of achieving working partnership/corroboration with the Uganda Law
Society;
1. Involvement in ULS projects
Most Law students go to school, hoping to someday make a change. A partnership with
the ULS would have the effect of according students an opportunity to make the
change.
The Uganda Law Society undertakes different projects where students would gladly be
involved;
a) The Pro-Bono and Legal Aid Projects
Majority of the Ugandans live in abject poverty and are thus not able to afford legal
services. Another big section of Ugandans have no awareness whatsoever about their
rights. Pro-bono services in Uganda are premised on that fact that a significant proportion
of the Ugandan population lives in abject poverty.
While the Advocates (Legal Aid to indigent persons) Regulations were adopted in 2007,
and the Legal Aid policy is delaying adoption by the cabinet, the need by the indigent
members of society to access justice is raising.
The Uganda Law Society runs both projects. However only few districts (9) are covered.
The districts in the country include; Kampala, Gulu, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Masindi, Soroti,
Arua and Mbarara through the satellite clinics of the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law
Society.
Law students, through their respective law societies would be glad to take part in the said
projects. They can be involved by way of organizing the events and provision of legal
services to the extent of their ability to do so. In this, they can work under supervision of
a senior lawyer for reference of the matters which are way beyond their ability to handle.
Anticipated benefits
Students’ participation in the projects would be beneficial not only to themselves but also
to the Uganda Law Society and the general public at large.

3.  Law students would have a benefit of acquiring inter-personal skills, working
skills, the will to volunteer, as well as have an interaction with the practical part of
what they study in lecture rooms.
 The ULS would also benefit by way of getting additional man power, for purposes
of handling a wide range of legal matters.
 Students’ involvement in the projects would be a future investment for the ULS.
Currently, various laws are in place requiring lawyers to dedicate forty hours of
the year to doing pro-bono work. However, achievement of this cannot be by
way of compulsion. It is by way of making the lawyers embrace the project. My
considered opinion is that this would be done if members are introduced to ULS
activities as early as when they are still in law schools.
2. Mentorship programs
Law students need to be taught beyond the lecture rooms. They need to be taught
about the shifting winds of the legal marketplace, and the new professional
opportunities that emerge from marketplace disruptions.
Students need to be taught to think critically and creatively about solutions to the
access to justice crisis, and about their potential roles and responsibilities as future legal
service providers.
Law students should graduate when they are business ready, with the real skills
and practical knowledge needed for early deployment in the conventional law firm
environment.
Mode
This can be done by; having law students attached to different law firms and NGOs, ULS
can also run a program specifically for mentoring the law students. For instance, holding
ULS day in law schools on a semester basis, where ULS dedicates time speaks to
students on different aspects of the profession.
3. ULS involvement in students Projects
Law students also run a number of activities inter alia; Moot court competitions,
publication of Law Journals, public lectures.
A reliable partnership with ULS would be very important. For instance; the world’s
largest and most prestigious Moot court Competition; The Phillip C Jessup International
Moots court competition started in 1960 and has been able to stand the test of time
because of its permanent funding from the International Bar Association and White and
Case (Law Firm).

4. Students would gladly welcome an alike partnership with the ULS for the activities
mentioned
4. The Supporting Access to Justice for Children and Youth in Eastern
Africa (SAJCEA) Program
The Uganda Law Society undertakes the SAJCEA for purposes of strengthening access
to justice for the vulnerable children and youths in the African Great Lakes region. Law
Students also participate in the Africa Child Rights Moot Court Competition.
ULS can corroborate with the Students Societies, to achieve the purpose under this
project, by hosting the National competition for Africa Child Rights Moot Court
Competition.
Benefits
 Strengthening access to justice for the vulnerable children and youth in the
region
 Through moot courts, students will be able to acquire various skills including but
not limited to; upgrading research skills in the field of child rights, upgrading
oratory and analysis skills among the students.