Mooting Teams Shine with Major wins in Jessup and Boston Competitions
The Makerere University School of Law (SoL) recorded a remarkable milestone in its mooting programme, with its mooting team emerging winners in the national rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition held on 31st January 2026 at Kampala International University. The victory earns the team the honour of representing Uganda at the highly anticipated international rounds set to take place in Washington, D.C., USA later this year.
The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is widely regarded as the world’s largest and most prestigious moot court contest, drawing participation from over 700 law schools across more than 100 jurisdictions annually. The competition simulates a fictional dispute between states before the International Court of Justice, requiring participants to demonstrate mastery of public international law, written advocacy through memorials, and oral advocacy before panels of judges.
SoL’s triumph at the national level is a testament to the team’s exceptional preparation, intellectual rigor, and composure under pressure. Throughout the competition, the students exhibited outstanding advocacy skills, delivering persuasive and well-structured arguments, while demonstrating deep analytical engagement with complex questions of international law. Their performance also reflected strong teamwork, strategic coordination, and the ability to respond effectively to challenging judicial interventions.
This achievement further reinforces the SoL’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in mooting, legal research, and scholarship. Over the years, Makerere has consistently distinguished itself in both regional and international moot competitions.
In a parallel success, another team from the School of Law showcased its talent on the international stage by securing first runners-up position at the Boston International Innovation Moot, held from 6th to 8th February 2026. The competition, which focuses on emerging legal issues at the intersection of law, technology, and innovation, attracted strong participation from universities around the world.
The Makerere team impressed judges with their originality, clarity of argument, and ability to navigate novel and complex legal questions. Their performance not only earned them the 1st runners-up position but also attracted special recognition in the form of the inaugural Pauline Ndirangu Willem C. Vis Moot Award. This distinction grants the team an opportunity to participate in the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, scheduled to take place in Austria in April 2026.
The Willem C. Vis Moot is one of the leading competition for law students to foster the study and practice of international commercial sales law and arbitration. Participation offers students invaluable exposure to practical aspects of dispute resolution, as well as networking opportunities.
Together, these achievements highlight the strength and depth of SoL’s mooting programme and its commitment to experiential legal education. By providing students with platforms to engage in high-level legal argumentation and global competition, the School continues to nurture well-rounded, confident, and globally competitive legal professionals.
As the teams prepare to represent Uganda on the world stage, the SoL community looks forward with pride and anticipation, confident that they will continue to uphold the institution’s tradition of excellence.
