KAMPALA, Uganda – High Court judges graced and presided over the Makerere University School of Law moot court day yesterday at Makerere University.

Justice Okuo Kajuga , Charles Kasibayo, and Andrew Khauka were among the judges that were present. Kajuga of the Anti-Corruption Court chaired the panel of judges during the exercise that was full of third-year law students donned in gowns playing as professional lawyers in a hypothetical case.

The fictional matter argued before the High Court of Mulago featured students acting as representatives of both the applicants and the respondents, who were the government named the Republic of Mulago for learning purposes.

The lead applicant, Medi Protect ALL, sued the fictional Attorney General of Mulago for alleged failure to uphold socio-economic rights, especially in budgeting and financing for social justice. The students also debated legal issues concerning the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2023. This bill currently before Uganda’s parliament seeks to regulate assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF.

The Makerere University School of Law Dean, Associate Professor Ronald Naluwairo, said that the moot was organised by the school and also emphasised the need for such initiatives to bridge the gap between theory and practice, with students researching real-life-inspired cases. He added that the School of Law offered several programmes, including bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees, as well as projects such as the Refugee Law Project, the Public Interest Law Clinic , the Business Law Clinic, and the Environment Law Centre.

He further emphasised that such initiatives aim at justice delivery while enhancing students learning and also added that there are plans to increase the number of moots to at least three annually to expand oral advocacy training and involve more judges in the process. The broader goal is to build a critical mass of students well versed in social justice, the rule of law, and democracy. Law school lecturer Prof. Christopher Mbazira said that the moot court experience has helped students internalise court decorum, particularly in the new facility dedicated to such training.

Also in attendance was was Her Worship Lillian Bucyana, the Deputy Registrar at the Judicial Training Institute, who took time to enlighten students about the electronic Court case management Information System, further highlighting its role in promoting efficiency, transparency and access to justice