LDC’s Legal Aid Clinic honours distinguished people

At the Silver Jubilee of the Legal Aid Clinic (LAC), the Law Development Centre recognised a distinguished group of jurists, leaders, academics and practitioners whose vision and service have shaped the Clinic from inception to its current national footprint.

From the Bench,

1. Chief Justice (Emeritus) Justice Benjamin Odoki was honoured for championing the establishment of the LDC Court and the promulgation of the Advocates (Student Practice) Regulations, reforms that embedded practical training within Uganda’s justice system.
2. Justice Percy Night Tuhaise was recognised for administrative leadership as former Deputy Director, ensuring a fit-for-purpose human resource structure for the Clinic.
3. Justice Christopher Martin Madrama was celebrated for his foundational work as LAC’s first Senior Legal Officer and for research that culminated in the Reconciliation Rules,
4. Former Advisory Board Chairs Justice Catherine Bamugemereire and
5. Justice Fredrick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende were commended for stewarding governance and standards;
6. Justice Solome Balungi Bosa, LAC’s first Board Chair, for laying the institutional foundations;
7. Justice Damalie Lwanga for spearheading the launch of diversion guidelines and programme rollout;
8. Justice Stephen Mubiru for leadership as Head of Postgraduate Studies and Legal Aid;
9. Justice Paul Gadenya for diligently overseeing the opening of the LDC Court as Judiciary representative on the Board; and
10. Justice Joanita Gertrude Bushara for developing Clinical Legal Education teaching materials and lecturing on the programme.

Institutional champions within LDC were also acknowledged.

1. Elijah Wante, former Director, initiated the integration of LAC into LDC’s structures;
2. Senior Counsel John Mary Mugisha, as former Head of Continuing Legal Education and Legal Aid, provided leadership in the Clinic’s early phase; and
3. Frank Nigel Othembi, former Director, oversaw the full integration of LAC—securing sustainability, policy alignment and stronger quality assurance.
4. Theodora Bitature Webale, LAC’s second Manager, was recognised for her foundational management of the Clinic’s operations and standards.
5. Annette Karungi Mutabingwa, former Head of Postgraduate Studies and Legal Aid, for acting leadership of LAC and departmental stewardship; and
6. Joy Badebye, former Head of Finance, for playing a crucial role in mobilising resources for LAC, including through the Presidential Select Committee on unfunded priorities.

The Clinic also recognised

1. Donald Rukare for teaching on the CLE programme and conducting programme-shaping research;
2. Eric Hatanga for his extensive support during the Clinic’s formative years;
3. Anthony Kakooza for teaching and championing ADR integration within the CLE curriculum; and
4. Peace Tusiime for research on diversion, which informed LAC’s child-sensitive justice model.

The Clinic further honoured practitioners and partners whose sustained effort translated policy into service.

1. Jimmy Oburu (Principal State Attorney) was commended for devoted service and intensive community engagement.

Together, these honourees exemplify the spirit of LAC—linking service to learning, strengthening fair access to justice, and building a pipeline of advocates grounded in ethics, competence and public service. Their cumulative leadership has enabled the Clinic to evolve from a promising idea into a nationally recognised model of clinical legal education and affordable legal aid.