MAKERERE University Law students were announced winners to represent Uganda in the 16th international competition on the International Humanitarian Law mock court competition.
The competiton will be held in Arusha Tanzania from November 25 to December 2, 2009.
Makerere was selected after emerging the best among five universities in the inter-university competitions, which took place at Makerere University Faculty of Law on October 16.
The competitions were funded by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Uganda Law Students Society.
The moot court is an imitation of an actual court session with the students playing the roles of prosecution and defence counsels presided over by judges from the tribunal.
Eighteen students from Makerere, Nkumba, Uganda Christian, Islamic University and Kampala International universities participated in the competition with each team represented by three students.
Uganda Christian University was awarded medals as the first runner- up.
The competition is aimed at developing the law students’ understanding of international humanitarian law, how it operates and how it is applied, according to the deputy head of delegation of the red cross, Ali Naraghi.
The court was presided over by Major Goddard Busigye of the Court Martial, Court of Appeal assisted by Naraghi Karen Lohner, an IHL delegate Nairobi regional ICRC delegation and other judges from the High Court.
Busingye said such practical competitions in law would lead to better quality lawyers in the region.
“You have seen how these students have been tussling it out and in such instances they will never forget what they have done here. It will be easy for them to apply these skills once in such situations while in the field.” he said.
