Court of Appeal justices advise law students on court language
Kiryabwire urged students to be accurate and not emotional. “In law, you need to be accurate; we can be emotional but argue without emotions,” he told the students who were presenting a case on reproductive and gender justice in Uganda.
Kiryabwire urged students to be accurate and not emotional. “In law, you need to be accurate; we can be emotional but argue without emotions,” he told the students who were presenting a case on reproductive and gender justice in Uganda. (Credit: Juliet Waisswa)
KAMPALA - Court of Appeal Justices have advised law students to learn court language as they train to become lawyers at their different universities.
Court of Appeal Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire led his colleagues in addressing law students from 17 Universities, who attended the 13th Annual National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot competition at Hotel Africana on Monday (September 28).
Retired Court of Appeal Justice Stephen Egonda Ntende chaired the Moot competition that attracted students from universities including Makerere University, Uganda Christian University, Nkumba University, Kampala University, and Islamic University of Uganda.
Kiryabwire urged students to be accurate and not emotional. “In law, you need to be accurate; we can be emotional but argue without emotions,” he told the students who were presenting a case on reproductive and gender justice in Uganda.
“Speaking is important while you are addressing members of the bench. Use words like 'Your Worship' instead of 'Your Lordship,' said Kiryabwire.
CEHURD deputy executive director Noor Nakibuuka said the two-day Moot programme was under the theme: 'Reproductive and Gender justice in Uganda, navigating constitutional rights, public interests and social values'. (Credit: Juliet Waiswa)
He urged law students to attend court proceedings to acquaint themselves with court language. "Be focused while presenting; whatever you want to address should be in your submission,” he implored.
“The moot is one of the interventions CEHURD uses to interest and nurture law students into the art of courtroom advocacy, introduce them to court decorum and practical aspects of litigating their right to health,” the CEHURD executive director, Fatia Kiyange, said.
She noted that CEHURD works with judges and magistrates from various courts within the country to preside over moots.
“Feedback from students and lawyers, who go through the rigorous moot processes, indicates that they don’t remain the same,” Kiyange said.
CEHURD deputy executive director Noor Nakibuuka said the two-day Moot programme was under the theme: 'Reproductive and Gender justice in Uganda, navigating constitutional rights, public interests and social values'.
“The reason we do the moots is that health, law and policy as course units in the various universities are optional,” Kiyange said, adding that this makes it difficult for law students to learn health policy issues.