This is the second year running the Uganda Law Society is holding this conference to highlight as well as learn from challenges affecting the legal profession. This year’s conference was attended by several prominent personalities in the legal and political arena including former Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi. While opening the conference, the Attorney General William Byaruhanga reminded members of the legal fraternity that they are part of the country’s economic development and they must, therefore, play their part in supporting the government’s policies and programs. “I wish to remind ourselves also that economic development is all about the processes and policies by which a nation improves the economic, political and social well-being of its people.” Said, William Byaruhanga – Attorney General. Byaruhanga also expressed concerns over the increasing transnational crime. “Things like cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking etc. So the prevention of this is part of the program that government must always deliver to their people.”
Francis Gimara the President of the Law Society called on lawyers and Judicial Officers to be courageous in the execution of their duties. “Courage is more execrating than fear and in the long run, it is easier. We do not have to be heroes overnight just a step in time. Meeting each cling that comes up, seeing it is not dreadful as it appeared, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.” Said, Francis Gimara – President, Uganda Law Society. The Executive Director of Uganda Commissions Commission Godfrey Mutabazi presented the conference participants with a future in which technology rules almost every aspect of life along with the challenges and opportunities such a future entailed. “10% of reading glasses will be connected to the internet, there are some and I have seen some already. There will be 10 trillion connected sensors on the internet, 10% of the world population will be wearing clothes connected to the internet, all these things I have seen personally they are coming and in 10 years it will be a norm.” Said, Godfrey Mutabazi – Executive Director, UCC.
Meanwhile, the Guest Speaker Peter Lee the CEO of Wavelength.law urged the Uganda Law Society to agitate for the establishment of online Courts to facilitate quick dispute resolution. “And indeed if you outside of the normal Court systems, eBay has one of the most impressive dispute resolution systems in the world. Thousands and thousands of people resolve their disputes using eBay’s platform every day.” Said, Peter Lee – CEO, Wavelength.law.
