Hon Nobert Mao, the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs has called upon all lawyers practicing in Uganda to spare time and offer free legal services the less previlaged members of society.
While officiating the grand opening of Advocates training on the East African Community ( EAC) Treaty, Mao asked advocates to always argue on facts and never to get scared of lawyers speaking alot of English but without points.
“This training will help Ugandans to have lawyers who can ably represent them at Regional court . Lawyers will be equipped with more knowledge about the East African Community treaty which acts as the constitution for the region , so you can’t practice the law without knowing it.”
“After this training , consider participating in Centre for Public Interet Law’s probono programmes to help the disadvantaged to also get legal representation in courts of law.”
Mao asked all East African leaders to look beyond the signing of the treaty but they shoudl at all times respect it and act as it provides.
Justice Cheborion Burishaki , one of the judges of the East African Court of justice (EACJ) commended CEPIL and partners forhaving provided Ugandan legal practitioners with such a great opportunity which will lay a firm foundation in their career.
“Legal professionals is very key in the court’s duty not only dispensing of justice but also in developing the court’s jurisprudence.We are training you so that you can be able to contribute to the jurisprudence of the court.”
in its last year’s the East African Court of Justice’s jurisprudence has expanded following several cases which have been filed in this court by individuals, Civil Society Organizations and other bodies.
“in February this year the appellate division delivered its first two awards, this was a positive sign of the mandate of this court , the first instance division also successful one mediation matter in 2021.”
Francis Gimara the Director for programmes at Centre for Public Interet Law (CEPIL) revealed that they have held similar trainings with judges and lawyers from other East African state and all these have greatly benefited participants.
“This is the second phase of the training, in the first phase we trainned the judges all over East Africa countries and as a result of that , they recommend that we can’t train them without the advocates. There is a saying that a good bench is dependent on the good bar.”
Gimara added that the days of the training will be practical on legal architecture of East African Community law.
About the training
The participants were selected through a competitive and transparent process where many applied but emerged as the 40 were successful candidates.
The training relied on two authoritative publications i.e Resource book of Good governance and rule of law in East Africa , it contains all authorities on good governance as far EACJ’s jurisprudence is concerned. The second document is the litigator’s manual.
The training also focused on Governance and rule of law as understood by the East African Court of Justice.
it was held at Protea Hotel Kampala starting from Tuesday 4th July to 5 Wednesday 5th July 2023 under the support of Centre for Public Interest Law(CETPIL), East African ourt court of justice and Ford Foundation.
