'Use revived law focus journal for critical dialogue'

_____________________

The Law Development Centre (LDC) has revived the publication of the Uganda Law Focus Journal, which was last published in 2002.

The revived edition showcases a diverse range of articles that delve into relevant legal issues and developments within the country and internationally.

The journal contains nine articles written by seasoned legal experts and scholars touching on mental health issues, property rights in cohabitation, issues on exercise of constitutional powers by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), security of occupancy under the Uganda’s constitution and the Land Act, the problem of legal aid, access to criminal justice at Anti-Corruption court, issues of juvenile justice and issues relating to human rights defenders.

Presiding over the launch of the journal at the LDC main campus at Makerere in Kampala on February 26, 2025, Supreme Court Judge Christopher Izama Madrama, the chairperson of the LDC management committee said the journal is a prestigious and important biannual journal published by LDC.  

Madrama said in 2022 the LDC management committee resolved to revive the journal and subsequently, in January 2023 invitations for the abstracts of potential articles for the journal were made.

“The conception and launch of the journal flows from the functions of the LDC under section 3(1)(n) of the LDC Act of publishing periodicals, bulletins, digests or other written materials concerned with legal and related matters,” Madrama said.

The journal had established itself as a scholarly journal by the 1970s but it lagged behind for various reasons.

Madrama said upon its revival, the journal should now serve as a useful vehicle for the programme for continuing legal education mapping out problems in the law and access to justice and as a useful tool for practitioners in the region.

Underscoring the importance of the journal, Justice Madrama said it embodies part of the commitment of LDC to foster inter alia critical dialogue on topical issues among legal practitioners, scholars and students alike.

In the ever changing legal landscape where legislative reforms have been ongoing for decades and new areas of law and trends in practice are emerging, justice Madrama said it is incumbent upon the profession to establish a local platform for sharing knowledge, experiences and insights about these trends and what could be more appropriate than the journal.

Justice Madrama said the publication of the journal offers not only academic research but also practical perspectives that are crucial in shaping the future of legal practice in Uganda.

“I hope this journal will encourage dialogue and engagement facilitating the exchange of ideas that can lead to constructive changes in our legal framework,” Justice Madrama said.

Madrama said issues of justice, equity and integrity must remain at the forefront of discussion and the journal should continue to serve as a vital forum for such conversations.

“I would like to urge all of us, the legal community, scholars, students and practitioners to engage with this edition and also contribute to the next edition. Let us use this journal not merely as a resource but as a launchpad for deeper inquiry and discussion about the law and its role in our society,” Justice Madrama noted.  

Patricia Atim, one of the authors signing an autograph as Dr Anthony Kakooza and Christopher Madrama Izama, Supreme Court Justice look on during the launch of the Uganda Law Focus Journal at Law Development Centre, (LDC) in Kampala on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

Engage the public

Commenting on access to justice in the country, Madrama said institutions engaged in the justice process should account for their activities through public engagement.

Underscoring the importance of freedom of expression concerning access to justice, Justice Madrama said institutions engaged in the justice process should also be transparent and be able to communicate their actions to the public and face public scrutiny of their actions.

Bold step

LDC director, Dr Pamela Tibihikkira-Kalyegira, said the launch of the journal marks LDC’s bold step in demonstrating their commitment to expand the realm of legal scholarship offering knowledge on law reform, current cases and legal developments beyond the classroom.

Tibihikkira-Kalyegira commended the authors for the excellent work done. She also lauded ex-LDC director and retired judge Francis Ssekandi who spearheaded the publication of the first issue of the journal in 1972.

Paul Mukiibi, the LDC’s head of department for law reform, research and law reporting revealed that the next publication will be focused on rebranding legal education and training in Uganda.

Mukiibi said they intend to have it out by October this year to guide the stakeholders on the necessary reforms on what should be done to transform the legal education in Uganda including the appropriate method that should be adopted for admission of Bar course students in the next intake.