The moot team from the Faculty of Law that comprised two fourth year law students, Katushabe Loyce Donna and Afekuru Hilda put up a spirited performance at previously concluded 27th African Human Rights Moots Court Competitions that took place in Ghana.
The moots that took place from the 6th to 11th of August 2018 were organised by Center for Human Rights from the University of Pretoria, and the University of Ghana (where the moots were held).
The African teams mooted under the theme “Africa: From Human Wrongs to Human Rights.”
The Faculty team emerged 7th out of the 40 English speaking teams that took part in the competition. The team also presented the 6th best memorial and Donna emerged in the top 20 oralists at number 15.
The other language team competitions were held in French and Portuguese.
The final rounds featured six teams, with four English speaking teams, one French speaking team and a Portuguese speaking team. The six teams were reconstituted after drawing of lots to form two teams. An Applicant team and a Respondent Team. The English-speaking teams were paired, the University of Ghana (Ghana) and the University of Nairobi (Kenya) for the Applicants against Makerere University (Uganda) and University of Pretoria (South Africa) for the Respondent State. The Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique), a Portuguese speaking team appeared on the Applicant side at the finals while the Université des Lagunes (Côte d’Ivoire) a French speaking team appeared on the Respondent’s side at the finals. The final round was won by the Respondent team.
At the end of the moot, awards were given to the top Portuguese, French, and English-speaking teams. Awards were also given for the best memorials in the different language competitions.
The best oralists were also awarded in the 3 language categories.
According to Lastone Gulume, a tutorial assistant who advised and trained the team, “the team’s performance was nothing short of a spirited excellent performance” which feedback he says he received from fellow participants and panelists before whom the UCU team appeared in the preliminary rounds.
Lastone travelled to Ghana with the team applauds it “for ably representing the University”.
“I also congratulate our counterparts from Makerere University for making it to the finals and winning the same,” he says.
Lastone attributes the effort of the Faculty team to the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Anthony C. K. Kakooza, who gave his “most unwavering support to the team”.
“Special thanks to Arnold Agaba for his oversight in the preparation of the team for the competition.”
Isabel Twongyeirwe, a former participant in the same moot in 2014 and an alumnus, played a key role when she dedicated her time to guide the team in its preparations.
“I thank all alumni and students who supported, and encouraged the team throughout its preparation exercise,” Lastone adds.
Both Agaba and Lastone are grateful to Counsel Oundo Benard of Oundo & Co. Advocates for his unrivalled support to the team.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to Oundo Bernard, Lastone Gulume, and the students who put in a good shift to achieve this result” says Agaba.
Bernard Oundo, an Alumnus of the Faculty of Law, offered the team an opportunity to utilize the facilities of Oundo and Company advocates, a law firm in Kampala, for moots training. The facilities included but not limited to a boardroom for practice, WiFi, stationary and refreshments.
Lastone further thanks Counsel Samuel Kiriaghe for his “assured support” for moots initiatives, and the University Administration for the financial and logistical support to the team.
Congratulations Team UCU.
