In a bid to equip students with more knowledge-based experience and practical skills in legal matters, the Uganda Law Society, in partnership with Cavendish University Uganda, has inaugurated a Rule of Law club that will ensure students are learned, well trained professionals that will address the problems faced in society.
This Club uses a participatory approach that ensures governance and the rule of law prevail in Uganda by allowing students of the legal fraternity and members of different communities to interact and share prevailing legal issues.
The Rule of Law Club was officially launched at the Faculty Hall in Kampala on Friday 2nd June by the president of the Uganda Law Society, Francis Gimara who was accompanied by other delegates and University officials at the Faculty Hall in Kampala.
In his address, Gimara said that embracing this initiative in universities is a revolution in realizing good governance, accountability and human rights in society. He said that this movement has to be championed by the youth because they are in a better position to access and influence more young citizens in transforming this country into a nation that respects the rule of law.
“As young students, don’t rely so much on the current and aged law practitioners who lack national spirit but instead start clubs that will educate more people into understanding and interpreting laws as a path to creation of a stable country through the culture of respect of the rule of law, respect for processes and respect for institutions”, he said.
Citing some countries that have benefited from the rule of law, Gimara said that the United Kingdom and United States of America have prospered through the creation of institutions that have protected their constitutional laws therefore his hope is that through the formation of such clubs Uganda will emulate these countries.
He applauded the students of Cavendish University Uganda for their enthusiasm and passion to acquire more knowledge in the legal profession, urging them to be disciples of the rule of law and to work for the good of the nation. The President was pleased by the University`s cosmopolitan student community which he promised would greatly benefit from this Initiative which will make them ambassadors of hope in their respective countries as far as the rule of law is concerned.
The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Olive Sabiiti said that the Rule of Law Club is an initiative of the Uganda Law Society that models law students into relevant legal practitioners in line with Cavendish University Uganda`s practical approach to teaching. She described this initiative as a fertile seed sown by Uganda Law Society which she hopes will spread throughout the entire University for all students to benefit and contribute to nation building.
The head of the Uganda Society Rule of Law concept, Irene Kwaga in turn said that this Club is a non-partisan, non-governmental forum dedicated towards promoting a free society by ensuring there is dignity, social justice, democracy, equality and human rights of all persons in observing and respecting laws that govern them. She urged Cavendish University Uganda to create an outreach clinic similar to that of Makerere University that will enable law students to interact with the community around them.
Besides launching the Club, the well-attended ceremony was highly interactive; with questions and comments from excited students who embraced this Initiative and promised to make good use of it.
