Law Development Center
Encyclopedia
The Law Development Centre (LDC), is an educational institution for higher learning that offers various legal
courses, ranging from one month to one year.
, that offers the bar course leading to the award of the postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice
(Dip.Leg.Pract
). Kenya
and Tanzania
, each have similar institutions which offer similar courses in their countries. In the early 2000s, the LDC was plagued by a high failure rate among students, sometimes as high as 90% in some years. The Center, together with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
and the Uganda Law Society
, have designed changes that include a pre-admission examination for students, continuing education requirements for LDC lectureres and instruction in teaching methods for all academic staff. The LDC library has also been updated with written literature as well as increased Internet access for students.
, along Makerere Road, just outside the southern perimeter of the main campus of Makerere University
. This location is less than 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi), south of the Faculty of Law at Makerere University and approximately 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi), by road, north of Kampala's central business district
. The coordinates of the Law Development Center are:00 1927N, 32 34 09E (Latitude:0.3240; Longitude:32.5690).
The current eligible Ugandan Universities whose law students are allowed to join law development centre includes the following.
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
courses, ranging from one month to one year.
Overview
The LDC is the only institution in the whole of UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, that offers the bar course leading to the award of the postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice
Legal practice
Legal practice is sometimes used to distinguish the body of judicial or administrative precedents, rules, policies, customs, and doctrines from legislative enactments such as statutes and constitutions which might be called "laws" in the strict sense of being commands to the general public, rather...
(Dip.Leg.Pract
Legal practice
Legal practice is sometimes used to distinguish the body of judicial or administrative precedents, rules, policies, customs, and doctrines from legislative enactments such as statutes and constitutions which might be called "laws" in the strict sense of being commands to the general public, rather...
). Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, each have similar institutions which offer similar courses in their countries. In the early 2000s, the LDC was plagued by a high failure rate among students, sometimes as high as 90% in some years. The Center, together with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and the Uganda Law Society
Uganda Law Society
The Uganda Law Society is an association of lawyers charged with ensuring high levels of professionalism among lawyers in Uganda.The Uganda Law Society was formed by an act of 1956....
, have designed changes that include a pre-admission examination for students, continuing education requirements for LDC lectureres and instruction in teaching methods for all academic staff. The LDC library has also been updated with written literature as well as increased Internet access for students.
Location
The center is located on Makerere HillMakerere
Makerere is a neighborhood in the city of Kampala, Uganda's capital city. The name also applies to the hill on which this neighborhood is perched; one of the original seven hills that constituted Kampala at the time of its founding.-Location:...
, along Makerere Road, just outside the southern perimeter of the main campus of Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
. This location is less than 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi), south of the Faculty of Law at Makerere University and approximately 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi), by road, north of Kampala's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. The coordinates of the Law Development Center are:00 1927N, 32 34 09E (Latitude:0.3240; Longitude:32.5690).
History
The Law Development Center (LDC) was established in 1970 by the Law Development Centre Act, as a government-owned institution of higher learning responsible for "research, law reform, publications, law reporting and community legal services". LDC is managed by the Management Committee which is responsible for policy formulation. The policies formulated by the Management Committee are implemented by the Director through various institutional departments.Administration
Administratively, the Center is divided into the following departments:- Library
- Publishers
- Postgraduate & Legal studies
- Law
- Continuing Legal Education & Legal Aid
- Law Reporting
- Research Law Reform & Publication
- Scholarships
The current eligible Ugandan Universities whose law students are allowed to join law development centre includes the following.
- Makerere UniversityMakerere UniversityMakerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
- Uganda Christian UniversityUganda Christian UniversityUganda Christian University is a private church-founded university administered by the Church of Uganda .-Location:The main campus of the university, with approximately 6,500 students, is located in the town of Mukono, approximately , by road, east of Uganda's capital city, Kampala, on the...
- Kampala UniversityKampala University-Location:Kampala University has its main campus at Ggaba, a southeastern suburb of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The coordinates of the main campus are:00 15 38N, 32 38 02E. KU's second campus is located in another Kampala suburb of Mutundwe, southwest of the central business district...
- Kampala International UniversityKampala International UniversityKampala International University is a private multi-campus university in Uganda.-Location:Kampala International University has its main campus at Kansanga, a location in the southeastern part of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The coordinates of the university's main campus are:00 17...
- Uganda Pentecostal UniversityUganda Pentecostal University-Location:The main campus of the university is located in the town of Fort Portal, Kabarole District, in Western Uganda, approximately , by road, west of Kampala, Uganda's capital city. The location is approximately , by road, west of Fort Portal town center on the road to Bwamba. The coordinates...
- Nkumba UniversityNkumba UniversityNkumba University is a private university in Entebbe, Uganda. It was established in 1994 as part of a group of schools and colleges which originally grew from a kindergarten set up in 1951...
- Islamic University in UgandaIslamic University in UgandaThe Islamic University in Uganda is a multi-campus university for advanced study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The main campus of the university is located in Mbale, Uganda, about northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.-History:The idea to start IUIU was conceived at...
Courses
As of March 2010, the courses offered at the Law Development Center include the following: core and major subjects are :Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Commercial Law, Land Transaction Law, Domestic & Family Law. Other subjects include: Art of Advocancy, Judicial Conduct, Professional Ethics, Legislative Drafting & Accountancy for Lawyers. The center employs full-time academic staff and also uses the services of several visiting professionals and people with experience who are drawn from among a wide selection of memberd of the Ugandan professional legal community.- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal PracticeLegal practiceLegal practice is sometimes used to distinguish the body of judicial or administrative precedents, rules, policies, customs, and doctrines from legislative enactments such as statutes and constitutions which might be called "laws" in the strict sense of being commands to the general public, rather...
- This twelve (12) months course is also called The Bar Course. It is offered to graduates of UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n and recognized law schools, prior to enrollment as an advocateAdvocateAn advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
and authorization to practice law in Uganda. - The Diploma in LawLawLaw is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
- This one year course is designed to train paralegalParalegalParalegal is used in most jurisdictions to describe a paraprofessional who assists qualified lawyers in their legal work. This is true in the United States and many other countries. However, in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, giving paralegals an...
s in the basic principles of law. Participants are mainly from the army, police, prisons, local government and other government departments. The course is also open to anyone who holds the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) who wishes to enhance their opportunities for further studies in law and employment. - Other Courses - The Center will, from time to time, organize short courses, lasting anywhere from one to six months, for lawyers and non-lawyers in specific aspects of the law, as the need arises.
Notable alumni
Notable alumni include:- Omara AtuboOmara AtuboDaniel Omara Atubo is a Ugandan lawyer, educator and politician. He is the former Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, in the Ugandan Cabinet, a position he served in from May 2006 until May 2011. He represented "Otuke County", in pressent-day Otuke District in the Ugandan Parliament, ...
- Rebecca KadagaRebecca KadagaRebecca Alitwala Kadaga is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. She is the current Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament. She was elected to that position on Thursday 19 May 2011. She is the first female to be elected Speaker in the history of Parliament in Uganda. She succeeds Edward Ssekandi, who served...
- Sam KutesaSam KutesaSam Kahamba Kutesa is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Ugandan Cabinet, a position he has held since 13 January 2005. He is also the elected Member of Parliament for "Mawogola County", Sembabule District...
- Norbert MaoNorbert MaoNorbert Mao is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current president of the Democratic Party, and the Local Council 5 Chairman for Gulu District.-Background:He was born on March 12, 1967. His father was Acholi and his mother was a Munyankole...
- Nobel MayomboNobel MayomboBrigadier Nobel Mayombo, sometimes spelled as Noble Mayombo, , was a Ugandan soldier, and Member of Parliament .-Background:He was born in Kabarole District in 1965...
- Amama MbabaziAmama MbabaziPatrick Amama Mbabazi is a senior Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current Prime Minister of Uganda, a position he has held since 24 May 2011. Prior to his current position, he served as the Minister for Security in the Ugandan Cabinet, from February 2009 until May 2011...
- Jim MuhweziJim MuhweziMajor General Jim Muhwezi Katugugu is a Ugandan lawyer, politician and retired military officer. He is the current elected Member of Parliament representing "Rujumbura County", Rukungiri District.-Education:...
- Isaac MusumbaIsaac MusumbaIsaac Isanga Musumba is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He served as the State Minister for Regional Foreign Affairs, from June 2006 until May 2011. In the cabinet reshuffle on 27 May 2011, he was dropped from the cabinet and was replaced by Asuman Kiyingi. He also served as the elected Member of...
- Adolf MwesigeAdolf MwesigeAdolf Kasaija Mwesige is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current Minister for Local Government in the Ugandan Cabinet. He has served in that position since February 2009...
- Hope MwesigyeHope MwesigyeHope Ruhindi Mwesigye is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. She is the former Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries, from 16 February 2009 until 27 May 2011. Prior to that, she served as the State Minister for Local Government, from June 2006 until February 2011...
- James NangwalaJames NangwalaJames Nangwala is a Ugandan lawyer notable for his defence of The Monitor Newspaper editors Charles Onyango-Obbo and Andrew Mwenda. He was formerly the head of the Bar Course at the Law Development Center, the Statutory Body charged with the sole responsibility of training lawyers in Uganda...
- Joe Oloka-OnyangoJoe Oloka-OnyangoJoe Oloka-Onyango is a Ugandan lawyer and academic. He is Professor of Law and Director of the Makerere University Human Rights and Peace Centre in Kampala, Uganda, as well as the former Dean of Makerere Law School...
- Fred RuhindiFred RuhindiFrederic Ruhindi, more commonly known as Freddie Ruhindi or Fred Ruhindi, is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current State Minister for Justice & Constitutional Affairs in the Ugandan Cabinet. He has served in that capacity since 2006. In the cabinet reshuffle of 16 February 2009, and...
- Edward SsekandiEdward SsekandiEdward Kiwanuka Ssekandi , is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current Vice President of Uganda. He was appointed to that position on 24 May 2011. Prior to that, he served as the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, a position he served in from 2001 until 2011...
- Sylvia TamaleSylvia TamaleSylvia Rosila Tamale was the first woman dean in the Law Faculty at Makerere University, Uganda.-Education:Tamale received her Bachelor of Laws with honors from Makerere University, her Master of Laws from Harvard Law School, and her Doctor of Philosophy , in Sociology and Feminist Studies from...
- David TinyefunzaDavid TinyefunzaGeneral David Seju Tinyefuza Munungu decorated with DAMU MEDAL and LUWEERO TRIANGLE MEDAL is a Ugandan lawyer and Military officer. He is the Coordinator of Intelligence services in Uganda and is a Senior Presidential Adviser to the President of Uganda...
- Jennifer MusisiJennifer MusisiJennifer Lubwama Semakula Musisi is a Ugandan lawyer and administrator. She is the current Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority. She was appointed to that position in April 2011...
- Erias LukwagoErias LukwagoErias Lukwago is a Ugandan lawyer and politician. He is the current Lord Mayor of the city of Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest metropolitan area in the country. He was elected to that position on Monday, 14 January 2011.-Background:...