News and Events

IUIU Faculty of Law launches Legal Enlightenment Clinic

• 06th November, 2023 11:17pm
• 4 minutes read

The faculty of law at the Islamic university in Uganda launched the legal aid clinic at the main campus in Mbale on Sunday the 5th of November 2023.

The legal clinic is a valuable addition to the university's roster of academic and community engagement initiatives and aims to provide essential legal services to the public while offering law students practical and hands-on experience through moot court training, community legal outreaches, and legal counseling.

One of the key purposes of the legal clinic is to bridge the gap between legal education and the practical application of the law and community sensitization.

The president Law Student Society Mr. Kakaire Umar commended the Dean and students for participating in the event and urged them to join efforts to change the lives of the people in the community that will be visited through the initiative.

The Dean of the faculty of law at IUIU Ms. Hamida Nagadya addressed the guest of honor and informed her about the recent visit by the faculty of law to Pallisa district where they carried out legal sensitization and had a fruitful deliberation with the community. She added that the clinic offers a real-world experience invaluable for law students, as it allows them to work on actual legal challenges, gaining insights into the complexities and challenges of the legal system. Students will have the opportunity to work on a variety of legal matters, ranging from family law and immigration issues to housing disputes and employment concerns.

‘’We want to ensure that justice is not only seen to be done but it should be done, the essence of education is not only for ourselves but for all those that may not be in the capacity to it.  Islamic university in Uganda is unique as it is based on Islamic principles and that is what makes us unique’’ She added.

‘’We are not only training students to be lawyers in the chambers but to go the community and give a service and be a future lawyer who is not only interested in money but to serve the community’’.

Hon Nandala Mafabi was represented by Rev Jackson Magombe. In his message, He apologized on behalf of Hon Mafabi for having failed to attend in person due to other official duties and commended the university for starting the initiative that will help to bring justice closer to the community. The member of parliament gave 1 million shillings and pledged more support to the clinic.

The guest of honor Honorable Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo who serves as the national treasurer for the National Resistance Movement party thanked the students for organizing the event aimed at raising public awareness aligned with the vision of the government to end discrimination against women and girls. ‘’I am hopeful that this engagement coupled with efforts from the ministry of health, the local government, and community leaders inform our collective efforts to eliminate violence against vulnerable groups in the community.’’

Ambassador Barbara made a contribution of 5 million shillings towards the cause and reassured the guests of the government’s commitment towards the girl child and vulnerable groups by investing significant resources in social empowerment programs in the areas of maternal health, formal education, adult financial literacy, social justice, and equity.

‘’On behalf of the government and my own behalf, we will make an initial contribution of 5 million shillings cash and we shall continue working as partners’’

‘’ I would like to take this opportunity to flag off our dear counsels to the communities, we wish you the very best because this is something you are doing to supplement the efforts of the government’’ she concluded.

Students were later served roasted beef and soft drinks in celebration of the launch of the legal enlightenment clinic at an Islamic university in Uganda.