Following the dominating performance of the UCU School of Law team at the recently concluded the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition National Rounds in January, the School of Law team is now set to travel to Washington DC for the Advanced Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Previously, the UCU team was crowned the National Champions, had the Best Memorial, and also produced the Best Oralist. The national rounds took place at Cavendish University from 17-18 January 2025 with UCU securing a victory in all the 6 rounds, but the team members, consisting of four students also achieved individual brilliance.
Meet the champions flying Uganda’s flag high:
Abraham Baraka Wanyanga who emerged as the Best Oralist is excited about the opportunity stating that it is both enriching and challenging. “I’ve grown in ways I didn’t think possible and challenged myself more than I previously had before”. He looks forward to experience mooting at the highest level possible (globally) with the opportunity to network with students, academics and practitioners from all over the world.
For Namugambe Rebecca Mukisa “participating in Jessup has been a life-changing experience filled with joy, intellectual growth, and teamwork”. Sharing experiences with her teammates has “created a strong bond” that has helped them navigate challenges together.
“I discovered a passion for international law, which has become a fascinating field of study” she says. The JESSUP experience has taught her that growth happens when “we step out of our comfort zones and believe in our collective potential”. She hopes with the participation of her team, they are able to achieve global recognition at the international rounds.
Ssemwogerere Stuart says that his experience at the national level, and now the representation of the country at the international rounds “has been a transformative journey of growth, learning, challenging myself and camaraderie”.
Researching, drafting memorials for the moots at all the stages and engaging in the “intense national oral arguments” have been “a valuable learning experience”. “We have worked tirelessly to refine our arguments, and it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come from winning National Rounds to representing Uganda in the Global Competitions in Washington D.C”, he says.
“We are excited to compete against top teams from around the world, learn from their approaches and strategies, and showcase our team’s skills and knowledge to the world” he adds.
The participation in the advanced international rounds will offer the students a unique opportunity to test their legal skills, gain exposure and make lasting connections with fellow mooters from different corners of the world.
For the Kylie Erin Kukunda, her experience at the JESSUP is and continues to be an adventure. The experience caused nervous excitement at the start, however, to determination to win has created a “battle of resilience, wit and growth”.
“I have grown to that it takes commitment, teamwork, determination, and dedication to make the dream work”, she adds. She looks forward to advancing in the international rounds and making a mark for herself, the university and the country as a a whole. “I look forward to engaging with different people from across the world and making meaningful connections”.
Each of the mooters has advised their colleagues and any aspiring mooters to embrace competitions.
“Mooting is tough” says Kukunda “but it is one of the best things you will do”. She urges students to “research like a detective, write like a lawyer and speak like an advocate”. From her experience, the Judges will challenge you but you ought to “stay calm, think fast and own your arguments… work with your team, take feedback seriously and practice until confidence comes naturally and … enjoy the process”.
For, Ssemwogerere the students must stay curious, be open to feedback from coaches, never stop learning and push for the best. “Mooting” he says “requires dedication, teamwork, team bonding, and creative thinking”. He encourages the students to embrace the challenges and not be afraid to take calculated risks. “It is often the best way to grow and improve as a mooter”. Growth cannot also be achieved without learning from mistakes, “It is essential to learn from our mistakes however, stay resilient, and keep striving for excellence”.
“Mooting is like riding a bicycle” says Wanyanga. “Learning is a bit difficult but once you get the hang of it, you just go”. He adds that you must “lean into your strengths and shed off the weaknesses. Work hard and believe in yourself and the rest will all fall into place.
With rigorous preparation and the nation’s support behind them, we believe that the students are ready to take on the world’s best mooters. Let’s rally behind them as they showcase Uganda’s legal brilliance on the global stage.
