Kampala, Uganda – The UK-Uganda Lawyers Association (UULA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uganda Law Society (ULS) to strengthen Uganda’s legal profession and foster international collaboration for legal practitioners in the diaspora.
The MoU, signed Thursday, February 13, at ULS House in Kololo, marks the first formal partnership between Ugandan lawyers in the diaspora and the Radical New Bar and pave way for enhanced legal mentorship, knowledge exchange, and professional development.
Speaking at the launch of the partnership, UULA Founding President, Mrs. Frances NK Ddungu Smith highlighted the role of Ugandan lawyers abroad in shaping the country’s legal and economic landscape and stressed how this MoU comes in handy to bridge the gap in their mode of work.
The partnership, she said, seeks to address systemic barriers faced by Ugandan-trained lawyers seeking to practice in the UK and vice versa. Through mentorship and structured integration programs, the MoU will facilitate smoother transitions for legal professionals between the two jurisdictions.
The UULA, short for UK-Ugandan Lawyers Association, boasts over 150 members comprising barristers, solicitors, and trainee lawyers, and Mrs Smith said the partnership will offer the opportunity for them to support Ugandan legal professionals in the UK while fostering connections with those at home.
She emphasized the need for collaboration in legal training, arbitration, and policy influence, ensuring that Ugandan lawyers are well-equipped to compete globally.
“We believe Ugandan lawyers know our challenges best and can represent our people more effectively in international legal matters,” Mrs Smith noted, challenging lawyers to embrace international legal practices, including arbitration and mediation, to expand their professional opportunities.
“Ugandan lawyers should not limit themselves to local cases. You can handle disputes from Tanzania, America, or anywhere in the world while practicing in Kampala,” she said.
On his part, ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde welcomed the partnership with UULA, which he said was long overdue and praised it as a milestone in uniting Ugandan legal professionals across borders.
Ssemakadde reiterated the need for a robust legal framework that allows for the seamless integration of Ugandan lawyers trained abroad into the local system. “Legal security is key to development. Without a strong legal profession, foreign investors will shy away, and justice will remain a privilege for the few,” the RNB President stated.
The signed MoU, DailyExpress understands, shall also foster opportunities for legal research, policy advocacy, and training programs aimed at modernizing Uganda’s legal practice to meet international standards.
Mrs Smith emphasized the potential of this partnership to uplift Uganda’s legal profession and overall development and thanked Ssemakadde for going Radical in the Ugandan Bar. “This is radical. For the first time, Uganda is actively bringing back its professionals from abroad to contribute to the nation’s progress,” she stated.
Under the partnership, both parties cordially agreed to ensure that Ugandan lawyers in the diaspora are actively involved in shaping policies that affect their countrymen back home.
About UULA
Founded in 2021, the UK Ugandan Lawyers Association (UULA), an organisation that brings together Ugandan legal professionals living and working in the UK, was officially launched last year on December 07, 2024, by Her Excellency Mrs Nimisha Jayant Madhvani, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda to the United Kingdom (UK).
Some of the association’s objectives include providing legal support to Ugandans in the UK, mentoring and supporting aspiring Ugandan lawyers in the UK, cooperating with other professional bodies to share knowledge, experience and expertise, keeping abreast of any developments in policy, law and practice affecting Ugandans in the UK, among others.
The association’s membership includes solicitors, barristers, legal academics, legal executives, trainees, and law students, all committed to upholding professional excellence and community service.
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