We are delighted to be holding our 2nd decentralised graduation ceremonies at the respective campuses starting with Mbarara , Kampala and Lira. With a population of over 2000 Bar Course and other students graduation at Kampala in one lot is not sustainable. I thank the Chair graduation committee and Assistant Directors for their tireless efforts to ensure the functions are carried out successfully.
The best 3 students on the entire Bar Course were from Mbarara campus, and 4th from Lira. We are happy to have delivered on our promise of offering the same quality service at our upcountry campuses as we do at Kampala. We share whatever resources we have across all campuses and ensure equality. I invite you to visit our campuses.
I congratulate all the graduates. I know it has not been an easy journey. Many of your colleagues on the Bar Course have not been able to graduate. The Bar Course is fraught with challenges but at the end of the day, the persistent hard workers always succeed. The diploma in law and diploma in human rights programmes are not less challenging. All are conducted with the extremely high standards that are the hallmark of LDC. I especially acknowledge those students who have received various prizes for academic excellence.
It is our sincere hope that the friendships and connections you have made at LDC will help you navigate smoothly through your professional and personal lives – one cannot put a price on social capital.
Stepping stone for bigger things and enrollment
We are currently grappling with the challenges of managing big numbers. With the liberalisation of legal education and the suspension of the pre-entry exam coupled with the popularity of law, the challenge of numbers will get worse before it gets better. We have a student population of about 2000 Bar course students and 1000 undertaking various other courses across the three campuses. Our human and material resources are stretched thin. The universities keep graduating alarming numbers. Last year, we got 3000 applicants for Bar Course. We admitted 1600 for 2023 and others for 2024.
As a profession, we need a serious discussion about managing these numbers as everyone wants to study law. We, however, pledge not to compromise on the quality of the services we offer. Those who deserve to pass, pass. Those who deserve to fail will fail. Marks are awarded by LDC and should never be politicised. Students go all over the country looking for Marks. Don’t panic!
We assure you LDC has no ill will or malice towards anyone. As an institution that teaches law and has among the best legal brains in the country, we are very careful that all our actions are carried out in accordance with the law. When we get it wrong it is not to do with the law. I understand your frustrations with academic challenges but follow our well laid out rules and procedures and advice.
We can no longer guarantee you the best of the best. We get complaints about the quality of those who have passed – imagine the complaints we would have about those who are still with us?
We face severe funding challenges and budget cuts despite our substantial contribution to Government revenue of about 14 billion shillings far exceeding our target of 12 billion shillings. We have fee paying students who pay over 6 million shillings which goes to URA. We have got cut of 1.8 bn.
How do we explain to students that we cannot facilitate their activities yet they have paid? How do we explain to our lecturers that they cannot be paid yet students have paid fees? Our engagements with relevant authorities to find lasting solutions to these challenges have so far not yielded results. In an effort to fit in with our reduced resource envelope, we have reduced number of firms, increased firm sizes and reduced the number of visiting lecturers offering support for specialised teaching at upcountry campuses. Unfortunately, this will have an adverse effect on our performance. We cannot have firms of 50 students and purport to discuss with them intricate principles of commercial law. With increased funding, we can deploy more lecturers and have firms of about 25-30 students. If we do not get improvement in our funding situation, we will have no option but to drastically reduce our admissions for Bar Course students.
I sincerely thank all who have contributed to the success of our training programmes :
-Our development partners including JLOS who have funded various activities and reforms.
-The Uganda Law Society whose President and members have supported us and stood firmly by our side. Fond farewell to Phiona Wall
-Organizations and law firms that have sponsored various prizes to recognize academic excellence.
-The Hon. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
-Our Attorney General for policy guidance.
-The Chairperson and members of the Management Committee for effective policy oversight.
-Assistant Directors.
-Lecturers and staff of LDC.
-External advisors and facilitators including Judges who have supported our teaching.
-Students, our valued customers.
-Parents who have stood by us through thick and thin.
-Service providers.
-The Chairperson and members of the organizing committee for organizing a wonderful function
I call upon all of you to reflect on our theme – Excellence. Always. – as you begin on your professional journeys. The legal profession is experiencing a crisis of ethics, integrity and professionalism. The Law Council is overwhelmed by complaints against advocates for professional misconduct. Every corruption scandal has a lawyer either as a perpetrator or a facilitator. Obtain what you want in your professional life but not at any cost. Stand for your principles.I wish you all the very best for your graduation and future careers.
Frank Nigel Othembi, Director, Law Development Centre