A team of law students from Cavendish University Uganda (CUU) won the Henry Dunant Award at the 21st All Africa International Humanitarian Law Moot Court competition hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Nairobi Regional Delegation in Arusha, Tanzania. The team comprised of Echo Mugisha, Aheebwa Rogers Musiime, and Miriam Lawoko, all students at the Faculty of Law, pursing a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.
The Henry Dunant award is given to the team that best exemplifies the values of the ICRC – Red Crescent Movement and the Founder, Henry Dunant, who was the first person to ever be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, and the “father of IHL.”
Nine (9) Universities participated in the Moot court competition from 20th – 25th November 2022 and these included; Cavendish University Uganda, University of Uyo, Strathmore Law School, Great Zimbabwe University, University of Rwanda, University of Dodoma, University of Juba, Midlands State University and the University of Hargeisa.
“Finding the balance between law and practicability has been the highlight for me at the moot, shared” Aheebwa Rogers.
“This was a great experience for me and I love the law,” expressed Miriam Lawoko. “I love the fact that I wasn’t put in a box of being a lawyer, I got to advocate from a different perspective of the law and my aspiration is to be the prosecutor of the ICC.”
“It was a pleasure to learn about the need to observe humanity and dignity during the war.” Echo Mugisha highlighted. We got to appreciate the principles that govern International Humanitarian Law and armed conflict.”
The University of Dodoma emerged the winners of the competition and a student from Strathmore University was named the best oralist.
Advocate Godfrey Ayeranga has been a moot court competitions coach at CUU for over 2 years now. As a coach, Mr. Ayeranga has trained teams which have participated in African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, International Humanitarian Law Moot Court, Constitutional Law Moot Court, among others.
Some of the recent highlights of his time as coach include coaching a team that was ranked among the top 10 oralists at the 2022 African Human Rights Moot Court Competition, a team that won the 2022 National Rounds for International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition, including awards for best oralist and best memorials, and a team that won the 3rd Annual Inter-University Public Interest Litigation Moot Court Competition, among other wins.
Mr. Godfrey Ayeranga has received several awards in recognition of his dedicated effort towards coaching several moot court teams to victory. Cavendish University Uganda is grateful for the role Mr. Ayeranga has played in establishing a culture of excellence and competition within mooting at CUU.
