Mao urges lawyers to anchor their work in Christ
Mao warned against compromise and moral ambiguity, urging Christian lawyers to stand firm in their principles.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Nobert Mao speaking during the Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity (UCLF) Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Hotel Africana on March 21. (Photos by Alfred Ochwo)
Dallen Namugga
Journalist @New Vision
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Christian lawyers have been encouraged to uphold their faith in the legal profession by ensuring that their work is firmly rooted in Christ.
Speaking during the Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity (UCLF) Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Hotel Africana on March 21, 2025, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, emphasised the importance of faith-driven integrity in the legal field.
He warned against compromise and moral ambiguity, urging Christian lawyers to stand firm in their principles.
“We all fall, but we get up in the journey,” Mao said, drawing a comparison between the struggles of Christian lawyers and St Peter’s moments of weakness in the Bible.
He reminded the attendees that faith is not about appearing righteous but about being honest in one’s spiritual journey.
Reflecting on his experiences with dispute resolution, Mao shared how his faith has played a crucial role in mediating conflicts.
He recalled his time at Pepperdine University, where he studied mediation, admitting that he was often unprepared and late to class.
However, he credited his faith and real-life experiences with disputes for shaping his approach to reconciliation.
“Faith has no room for compromise. If asked, ‘Can you steal?’ or ‘Can you take a bribe?’ the answer cannot be, ‘It depends,’” Mao said, cautioning against moral decay in the legal profession.
He compared faith to an anchor in rough waters, stating that true justice must be grounded in unwavering spiritual values.
Mao also underscored the power of prayer in mediation, recalling an instance where he led disputing parties in prayer before settling a case involving a moneylender demanding sh600 million.
“Prayer can set the stage for mediation,” he noted, adding that spiritual guidance should not be disregarded in professional practice.
Faith as a foundation for justice and equality
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Nwanneakolam Vwede-Obahor, challenged Christian lawyers to reflect on their role in addressing inequality and injustice in Africa.
She urged them to consider how their faith influences their work in a continent facing significant economic, social, and political disparities.
“What does it mean that you are a lawyer and you profess faith? What does it mean to form a fraternity in the face of a continent riddled with large differences in equality?” she asked.
She cited biblical references to emphasise the connection between Christianity and justice, including Micah 6:8, which calls on believers to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God,” and Amos 5:24, which states, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
According to Vwede-Obahor, Christian lawyers must allow their faith to shape their professional conduct, ensuring they act with wisdom, compassion, and integrity.
“If you say you are a Christian lawyer, then it means you are a person who works in love,” she said, emphasising that faith should not be limited to personal beliefs but should guide legal decisions and actions.
‘Jesus Christ as the Number One Client’
Justice Mike Chibita, patron of UCLF, further encouraged the fraternity to see Jesus Christ as their primary client above all others.
He stressed that Christian lawyers should distinguish themselves by practising law differently from the secular world.
“For a Christian lawyer, Jesus Christ should be your number one client. You will have other clients as a private practitioner, judge, or lecturer, but above all, your first allegiance should be to Christ,” Chibita stated.
He urged lawyers not to conform to worldly standards in their legal, political, and judicial engagements.
“We should not do politics the way the world does politics. We should not do lawyering the way the world does lawyering. If you are a judge, you should not judge the way the world judges,” he emphasised.
To illustrate the power of faith in legal practice, Chibita referenced the thief on the cross who was granted entry into paradise by Jesus.
He used this example to remind Christian lawyers that faith in Christ, rather than self-righteousness, is what truly sets them apart.
“Once we lose sight of that fact, then we are practising law just like the world,” he warned.
Chibita also acknowledged the growth of UCLF since its founding in 1987, crediting the dedication of its members to transforming it into a thriving Christian legal movement.
He encouraged them to continue their work with Christ at the centre.
“We don’t want to do this business like everybody else does it,” he said. “For us, the man on the cross told us we will be with Him in paradise, and we must do things differently.”
The AGM reinforced the powerful message that faith and legal practice must go hand in hand. As Uganda’s legal landscape evolves, the role of faith-driven legal professionals remains more critical than ever.