On Friday, the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) hosted the 11th National Inter-University Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition.
According to Fatia Kiyange, Executive Director of CEHURD, the competition aimed to build capacities of young lawyers to advance human rights, emphasizing social justice, gender, sex, and reproductive health.
“At CEHURD, we champion human rights in health and social justice, amplifying the voices of the marginalized and combating injustices within the healthcare system. Our mission includes nurturing and inspiring young lawyers to pursue careers dedicated to advancing health rights for the most vulnerable populations.”
Recognizing that many lawyers are drawn to private practice, Ms. Kiyange says they strive to cultivate a commitment to human rights, particularly for those most in need.
“Today, we proudly host our 11th National Inter-University Moot Competition, bringing together 13 universities to engage on pressing issues of social justice, gender, sex, and reproductive health.”
She underscored that this year, students demonstrated exceptional research skills, in which Islamic University in Uganda’s Mbale campus emerged victorious, closely followed by Cavendish University.
“Typically, following the competition, we observe a surge in interest among young lawyers to pursue human rights law and collaborate with civil society organizations. As part of our commitment, we offer the winner an internship at CEHURD, providing valuable exposure to advocacy, litigation, and community legal empowerment.
Notably, while many universities offer courses on health policy and law, Kiyange says these are often elective, resulting in limited accessibility for all students. However, students get exposed to these courses in the Moot competition which shapes their understanding in the human rights.
The winner of the 11th annual CEHURD moot sessions, Ms. Nanyonja Shakirah, a student at IUIU main campus in Mbale noted that the achievement demonstrates that their efforts have truly paid off, marking a historic first-time win for IUIU.
“I attribute my success to confidence, courage, hard work, and thorough preparation. I extend my gratitude to my instructor and university coordinator for his tireless efforts in preparing me for this competition.”
She also commended CEHURD for organizing this event, providing students like herself, still in training, with the opportunity to showcase their advocacy skills and demonstrate their capabilities.
Mukabire Moses, a fourth-year law student at IUIU, the university moot instructor and coordinator views the opportunity as a catalyst to inspire students back at the university to excel in moot court activities, promoting greater participation and encouraging the administration to continue investing in experiential learning that prepares students for the professional world.
“This opportunity will energize our students to push boundaries in moot court competitions, fostering increased participation and motivating the administration to support activities that provide real-world experience.”
The competition which was judged by respectable brains in the legal arena including Honourable Lady Justice Suzan Okalany, Honourable Lady Justice Naluzze Aisha Batala, Hon Lady Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, Her Worship Edimu Hellen, and His Worship Okumu Jude Muwone, saw hundreds of participants from;
- Makerere University
- Uganda Christian University Mukono
- Uganda Pentecostal University (Kampala and Fort Portal campuses)
- Cavendish University
- Islamic University in Uganda (Mbale, Kabojja, and Kampala campuses)
- Nkumba University
- Kampala International University
- King Ceaser University
- International University of East Africa, and
- Gulu University
Honourable Lady Justice Suzan saluted the winner, Ms Nanyonja for demonstrating exceptional confidence, surpassing others in thoroughly addressing the respondent’s case.
“Her clarity in outlining the case’s key aspects, identifying flaws in the appellant’s arguments, and organizing her presentation set her apart. While all mooters excelled, performing admirably beyond many practicing lawyers, her standout performance is noteworthy.”
“Continuing this trajectory will undoubtedly yield remarkable success in your future legal endeavors,” she excitedly noted.