2015/2016 Freshers’ Orientation
The management and staff of the School of Law officially welcomed the fist year students with a call on them to prioritize their academics while at University.
The event held at the School of Law on Wednesday was graced by among others members of professional organisations that included Ms. Ruth Sebatindira, President Uganda Law Society, Ms Stella Diwaga from FIDA Uganda, heads of Departments and the President Makerere Law Society, Edwin Mugumya.
While addressing the students, the Ag. Principal Dr. Damalie Naggita Musoke, congratulated the incoming students upon choosing a noble profession and for successfully going through the sieving process.
She asked them to take note of the requirements of being at the law school by reading the School hand book and utilising the offices in place in order to have a smooth stay in the Law school.
Further, she advised the students to use the newly found freedom at the University responsibly and cautioned them against over reliance on photocopied reading materials, but rather read widely as the course requires.
Ms Ruth Sebatindira President Uganda Law Society in her address to the students said ULS has over two thousand three Hundred members. She said the organisation has a Legal Aid program which reaches out to communities and urged the students to get interested in the work of the association while still at University because they too would eventually become members.
Sebatindira counselled the students to be focused, develop personal plans and get useful relationships while still at University. She asked them to use the time at the Law school profitability and gain skills that will be very useful in the future such as professional relationships.
The students were also addressed by Ms. Stella Biwaga from FIDA Uganda who informed them that being a Lawyer goes beyond a Court room, to other areas like Human Rights and gender justice targeting women, just like FIDA does. She invited the students to utilise the resource centre at FIDA to be able to appreciate the diverse nature of law and the career options that are open to the students of Law.
Mr. Henry Nsubuga from the Counselling Unit of Makerere University introduced the service to the students and advised them to utilise the service for their own development. He said the unit supports students in terms of career development but also when faced with challenges ranging from academic to psychological that in some case have led to suicide, depression and alcohol abuse among University students the world over.
Representing the Uganda Christian Lawyer’s Fraternity, Ms Niwamanya Daphne urged the students to join such associations while still at Law School. She said the association convenes a number of activities that are beneficial to the academic and career growth of the students and these include Moots, Seminars and symposia.
Ms. Atim Patricia a Lecturer in the Law School and Instructor in PILAC introduced the incoming students to the Public Interest Law Clinic, with the objective of interesting them to Public interest lawyering options available in their pursuit of a law career. She said PILAC aims at creating a change in the mindset of the lawyers to be able to address issues of public interest targeting the underserved indigent communities.
Other officers that addressed the students included the Registrar Joan Basigira, the Chair Department Commercial Law, Dr. Winifred Tarinyeba, Dr. Maria Nassali, Ag. Chair, Public and Comparative Law Department
