The Masaka High Court on Friday April 5, 2024 concluded a four-day trial advocacy training for 25 lawyers drawn from private practice and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The training which was hosted by the High Court ran from 2nd to 5th April 2024 and was held in partnership with Justice Advocacy Uganda (JAU) Ltd. Although this was the first time the training was being held in Masaka, it has for the 15 years been hosted in Kampala by various stakeholders.
Opening up the training on Tuesday2nd April 2024, the Head of the Circuit, Hon. Lady Justice Victoria Nkwanga Katamba informed the participants that she had herself been a beneficiary of the training before joining the bench and had long planned for the advocates in her circuit to reap from its practical and in-depth coverage of trial skills. She hoped that the skills and attitudes towards litigation acquired would produce results that advanced the dispensation of justice in the entire Circuit.
The topics covered during the training included case analysis, submissions, examination in chief, witnesses' statements, exhibits, cross examination, re-examination and the ethics and professionalism expected of litigators. The training was based on a case file involving a claim for family land which participants noted was an applicable and common dispute in the Circuit. To crown the training, the participants proceeded in mock trials that were presided over by Hon. Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, HW Julius Borore (Deputy Registrar) and HW Raphael Vueni (Chief Magistrate Rakai).
The Judicial Officers in their address to the participants after the mock trials noted that the skills demonstrated were effective and, if maintained in real life cases, would aid Judicial Officers in reaching just results in a timely manner.
Closing the training on Friday, Hon. Justice Tweyanze thanked the Faculty and participants for investing in their skills which was the duty of every professional.
He informed participants that based on the participants' experiences as reported in their feedback, he was sure that the benefits of the training would result in a reduction in case backlog both from advocates being cautious to file only matters that were defendable and from them proceeding in timely and effective ways. He recognized the two most Senior Members of the bar who participated in the training; Mr. John Kawanga and Mr. Nnyanzi Yawe, for being great mentors to advocates in Masaka. He noted that they were credited for modeling the court decorum and courtesy that existed between the bar and bench in the High Court. He finally thanked his colleagues led by the Head of the Circuit, Registrar and Supervisor of the Court for organizing and hosting the training.
The Uganda Law Society Representative of the Region Mr. Lawrence Yawe appreciated the Court and Faculty of Justice Advocacy Uganda for bringing the training to the Masaka circuit and urged his fellow advocates to ensure this was the beginning of this productive and practical training being held routinely.
The Faculty was comprised of advocates Mr. Arthur Ayorekirwe, Mr. Jeremy Kibuuka-Musoke, Ms. Peruth Nshemerirwe, Mr. Patrick Alunga, Ms. Diana Kasabitti, Mrs. Linda Alinda-Ikanza from private practice and Ms. Prida Diana, the Manager Prosecutions at Uganda Revenue Authority.
Each of the participants who completed the training received a certificate of completion.
Posted 5th, April 2024
