Uganda Law Society (ULS) has expressed serious concern over reports that the Law Development Centre (LDC) Lira Campus may be closed after the second term, directing students to relocate to alternative campuses to complete their postgraduate legal training.
ULS has urged the LDC administration to clarify the situation immediately and warned that such a move highlights long-standing structural weaknesses in Uganda's legal education system.
In a statement dated Friday, 27 March, 2026 and signed by ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde, the Society emphasized that the closure, if confirmed, would exacerbate existing challenges faced by students at the Lira Campus, including inadequate infrastructure, poor sanitation, inconsistent water supply, and frequent flooding during the rainy season.
Students have also reported prolonged power outages, creating security risks and disrupting their studies.
“LDC owes a duty of care to students enrolled under its programs. The provision of safe, habitable, and conducive learning environments is non-negotiable. Students should not be forced to relocate arbitrarily, leaving behind stable living arrangements, employment, and family support systems. Such decisions impose significant financial, emotional, and academic burdens that must be addressed within the broader framework of legal education reform,” the statement read.
ULS has long advocated for ending the LDC’s monopoly as the sole provider of postgraduate legal practice training in Uganda. Each year, Ugandan universities produce thousands of law graduates, but the capacity of LDC has consistently fallen short, resulting in congestion, limited intake, operational inefficiencies, and delayed access to the legal profession.
The dual role of LDC as both trainer and examiner has also raised concerns about conflicts of interest and the quality of professional legal education.
The Society pointed to international examples as models for reform. In Ghana, the Legal Education Reform Bill passed by Parliament on 26 March 2026 abolished the Ghana School of Law as the exclusive gateway to legal practice.
Under the new system, accredited universities provide practical training, and a standardized national bar examination is administered by an independent body.
Similarly, in South Africa, the National Bar Examination allows graduates from multiple law schools to qualify for practice through a competency-based examination. In the United States, state bar exams are overseen by independent authorities, with no single law school holding monopoly status.
“The reported closure of the Lira Campus is a symptom of systemic capacity constraints within Uganda’s legal education system. We urge the government to urgently pass the National Legal Examination Centre Bill, which would establish an independent examination body and allow multiple accredited institutions to provide professional legal training. This reform is essential not just for education, but for access to justice and the strengthening of the rule of law in Uganda and the East African Community,” the statement read.
ULS reiterated that limiting access to professional legal training has broader implications, including a persistent shortage of lawyers relative to population needs.
Expanding professional training pathways is therefore not merely an educational matter, but a critical issue for governance and the rule of law.
The Society concluded its statement by calling on all stakeholders—government authorities, educational institutions, and the legal profession—to work collaboratively to ensure that legal education in Uganda is accessible, fair, and of the highest professional standard.
“Uganda’s future depends on a robust legal education system that can meet the needs of our growing population of law graduates. We remain committed to advocating for reforms that promote fairness, professional excellence, and equitable access to justice for all,” the statement read.
