Lawyers petition Rugunda over LDC pre-entry failures

By Apollo Munghinda

LAWYERS have petitioned the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda to fast-track consultations with relevant state organs regarding the plight of thousands of lawyers who annually fail to be enrolled for the Bar professional training course at the Law Development Centre (LDC)

Ekima Emmanuel and Bangi Sayid of Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) said the high LDC failure rates had to do more with lack of capacity by LDC to accommodate more lawyers graduating from the various universities across the country.

912 out of 1,272 lawyers who sat for the pre-entry examination for the Bar course last month did not qualify for enrolment.

The petition to the Premier was made at the ceremony where he flagged off student leaders under their umbrella body Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA) for a study tour in Rwanda at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

Dr Rugunda asked the lawyers to formalize their petition to government, pledging to follow up this matter with the relevant authorities including Parliament where a petition was lodged last year to investigate the challenges faced by LDC.

The Premier commended UNSA for organizing the trip which will help members to explore and appreciate the diversity of the East African Community.

“You should be able to get the best practices from our region,” said Rugunda adding that the future of Africa was in the hands of the youth.

He said colonialism Balkanized Africa and the youth had the obligation to transform the continent to its dignity.

Rugunda also said Uganda was peaceful because of the sacrifices made by young people who liberated this country.

“You must ensure that the gains of the revolution are sustained,” The Premier said.

The President of Uganda National Students’ Association, Aber Lillian said the tour will expose student leaders to the benefits of the East African integration.

She said the team will meet officials of the Government of Rwanda including the Speaker of Parliament, the Inspector General of Police and the Mayor of Kigali in addition to visiting the genocide memorial sites.

Aber thanked President Yoweri Museveni who is also the Patron of UNSA for ensuring that the association has vehicles to facilitate its work.

She requested that the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports streamlines access to the money collected by students for UNSA activities.