Principal Judge Ogoola cautions lawyers on graft

Apr 21, 2008

Lawyers should desist from exploiting their clients, the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, has said. He said the practice undermined the principles of justice that lawyers should be championing.

By Charles Ariko

Lawyers should desist from exploiting their clients, the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, has said. He said the practice undermined the principles of justice that lawyers should be championing.

“As lawyers, do not live to exploit the adversity of society. Rather, live to expunge the adversity from society. All of us in the legal fraternity need to play our rightful roles.”

Ogoola was on Friday addressing Law students attending at a conference organised by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative at the Kampala International University.

He said for democracy to prevail, it was necessary that lawyers fight injustice by upholding their code of conduct.

“Together we shall ensure that justice rules, that human rights prevail, that the rule of law obtains and the reign of reason abides and abounds in the land.”

He criticised African leaders for clinging onto power.

“Africans once installed in power whether by fair or foul means are typical prototype African leaders. They take a firm grip on the instruments of power, dig deep into the state machinery, hang on the steering wheel of the ship of the state and like a leech, sticks irremovably onto the body politic of the state.

“This is a blatant negation and crude abrogation of the fundamental political rights enshrined in the sacred national constitutions,” Ogoola said.

Citing the recent political events in Kenya and Zimbabwe, Ogoola said innocent people end up suffering the most from the actions of their political leaders.

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