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Deputy Attorney General assures Parliament on lawyers' enrolment backlog
Responding to issues affecting the graduates raised in Parliament, Kafuuzi said starting September this year, things will move more smoothly.
Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi. (File photo)
By: Mary Karugaba and John Odyek, Journalists @New Vision
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The Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, has assured Parliament that government is working with the Law Council to address challenges delaying the enrolment of Law Development Centre (LDC) graduates as practising advocates.
Responding to issues affecting the graduates raised in Parliament, Kafuuzi said starting September this year, things will move more smoothly.
“We believe starting September (this year) things will move a little smoothly; I can guarantee you that,” he said.
Kafuuzi said government was already engaging the Law Council to resolve the challenges affecting enrolment.
“In regard to enrolment, we are engaging the Law Council. They had a number of challenges, which we are trying to iron out,” Kafuuzi said.
Leader of the Opposition and Nakawa Division West MP Joel Ssenyonyi described the matter as a growing concern and noted that the backlog of LDC graduates, who have completed their training but remain unable to enrol on the Roll of Advocates and begin practising has continued to cause public concern.
Ssenyonyi told Parliament that between 1,300 and 1,600 students graduate from LDC and become eligible for enrolment as advocates each year, but only about 600 are eventually admitted to the Roll.
He questioned why hundreds of graduates, who have fulfilled the requirements for professional entry, continue to face delays in joining the legal profession.
The Opposition Leader asked the Government to explain the cause of the backlog and what measures were being taken to ensure that graduates are enrolled without unnecessary delays.
Leader of the Opposition and Nakawa Division West MP Joel Ssenyonyi described the matter as a growing concern and noted that the backlog of LDC graduates, who have completed their training but remain unable to enrol on the Roll of Advocates and begin practising has continued to cause public concern.
Ssenyonyi told Parliament that between 1,300 and 1,600 students graduate from LDC and become eligible for enrolment as advocates each year, but only about 600 are eventually admitted to the Roll.
He questioned why hundreds of graduates, who have fulfilled the requirements for professional entry, continue to face delays in joining the legal profession.
The Opposition Leader asked the Government to explain the cause of the backlog and what measures were being taken to ensure that graduates are enrolled without unnecessary delays.
The concerns prompted questions about the capacity and efficiency of the professional regulatory system, particularly where graduates have completed their academic and professional requirements and are ready to enter the labour market.
According to Ssenyonyi, some students have complained that they are required to repeat the entire LDC course after failing only a limited number of subjects, a requirement he said was causing additional delays and financial hardship for affected students.
He told Parliament that the affected students had petitioned the Speaker (Jacob Marksons Oboth) over the matter and expressed hope that their concerns would also be addressed.
The Speaker of Parliament (Oboth) also questioned the delay, wondering why graduates who have completed the required training should continue waiting before they can practise.
He questioned whether the delays were caused by inadequate capacity within the regulatory system or other factors.
Ssenyonyi said the Government should ensure that students and graduates are not subjected to unnecessary delays after completing the requirements for professional qualification.
According to Ssenyonyi, some students have complained that they are required to repeat the entire LDC course after failing only a limited number of subjects, a requirement he said was causing additional delays and financial hardship for affected students.
He told Parliament that the affected students had petitioned the Speaker (Jacob Marksons Oboth) over the matter and expressed hope that their concerns would also be addressed.
The Speaker of Parliament (Oboth) also questioned the delay, wondering why graduates who have completed the required training should continue waiting before they can practise.
He questioned whether the delays were caused by inadequate capacity within the regulatory system or other factors.
Ssenyonyi said the Government should ensure that students and graduates are not subjected to unnecessary delays after completing the requirements for professional qualification.