Cavendish University emerged the winner of this year’s Uganda International Humanitarian Law moot, held Thursday at the Imperial Royale Hotel.

Gulu University came second in the annual contest, which saw six other law student teams from Nkumba University, UCU, KIU, Bishop Stuart University and IUIU participate.

Makerere University which last won the contest in 2015 was absent this year.

The Gulu University team

The Uganda International Humanitarian Law Moot; a contest organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross pits foremost law students from different Ugandan Universities arguing cases for and against in staged court proceedings related to a fictional dispute.

In the moot court as well, competing law students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of International Humanitarian Law. The Ugandan version of the Law moot has been held since 2019.

In the final, watched and judged by eminent Ugandan lawyers-Mike Chibita, Kabumba Busingye, Suzan Okalany, Harriet Ssali, James Nkuubi and Jemma Arman, the regional legal advisor of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Cavendish University’s law student team represented by Rogers Musiime, Echo Mugisha and Mirriam Lawoko impressively set their wits to work and put forth their prosecution case in what was a fictitious International Crimes Division of the High Court of UKK, an imaginary international Justice Institution.

Justice Mike Chibita makes an observation during the Uganda International Humanitarian Law Moot, held on Thursday

They made a case for the prosecution of fictitious President Zeleti Andimo of the imaginary state of Rubani for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects in Dalanka, a fictitious neighbouring state, while Gulu University represented by Sheba Ankunda, Stanley Nabongo and an impressive Justine Ejiku acted as his legal defence.

In the end, after a few minutes of deliberations, the judges tipped the scale in Cavendish University’s favor.

For their efforts, Cavendish University’s law student team took home sh2.1m, whilst Gulu walked off with sh1.5m.

Cavendish University will now represent Uganda at the All-Africa Moot Case Competitions, which will take place in Arusha in September.

The Gulu University law student team receiving their runners up cheque from Justice Suzan Okalany

“A moot court, which involves a lot of research and presentation, is good practice for law students especially those interested in international humanitarian law. It is good practice for future advocacy. Students who take part in these law moots usually perform very well when they get out of school,” Chibita said.