Makerere law students panic as LDC enrolment deadline approaches

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Final year law students at Makerere University want the Law Development Center (LDC) to create a special intake for them. The deadline for enrolling for the bar course at LDC is September 10, 2021.

However, the final law students at Makerere University have an entire semester to go, which means they cannot apply for the bar course. The Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice is an authorization for lawyers to practice law in Uganda. Established in 1970, LDC is the only authorized institution in the country that offers the bar course.

Last week through Grace Waiswa, the president Makerere Law Society, the finalists wrote to LDC to give them special consideration in vain. Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Uganda in March 2021, learning institutions have had changes of schedules resulting from the lockdowns. Under normal circumstances, the students would have completed their Bachelor of Law graduate course in May.

However, this very year on June 7, 2021, the president directed another lockdown of all learning institutions shortly after the finalists completed their semester one examinations. Since then, the students await to start their second semester on August 30, 2021, to complete their final academic year at Makerere University.

Waiswa argues that because of such unavoidable circumstances, it is impossible for the law school administration to conduct lectures, administer examinations and release results within this remaining time to the enrolment deadline to LDC. LDC requires that for any student to be eligible for the bar course, they should have successfully completed their Bachelor of Law undergraduate program.

Deans in different Universities are required to submit names of successful law students to the center. Ever since the institution was established, there has been one intake in September for all universities. Initially, Makerere University was the only institution with students of law feeding the center.

Along the way, more law teaching institutions like Uganda Christian University, Islamic University in Uganda and Kampala University have come on board among others. The fact that LDC has received applications from other universities before the set deadline is a threat to Makerere University students who feel their chance for a special intake is compromised as the institution can ably run without them.

Uganda Christian University for instance, has two campuses teaching students of Law, one in Kampala and another in Mukono. Unlike Makerere University, these subjected their students to online examinations during the lockdown and they were able to meet eligibility requirements for enrolling at LDC.

Maurice Okirya, a final year student at Makerere University School of Law faults the administration for laxity on the matter.

Marion Kirabo, another student expressed distress, saying the COVID-19 lockdowns have prolonged the length of time for their course. For her case, the four-year long course at the University can end up consuming six years.

William Mandela, another finalist at Law School is disappointed that much of their effort at imploring the university to help mediate discussions with LDC to give them special considerations have been futile.

Professor Christopher Mbazira, the Principal of Law School at Makerere University advises students to concentrate on completing their course. He says, “For now worry about finishing semester II, LDC will work out at the right time.” According to him, the final decision is entirely to the Law Development Center.

Frank Nigel Othembi, the Executive Director LDC has confirmed receiving the petition from the students. He says their admission board is looking into the petition. LDC operates as an independent institution with the liberty to make its own decisions concerning admissions.

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