The Uganda Law Society has launched a mental wellness campaign aimed at supporting lawyers to cope with the psychological and emotional demands of legal practice.
Speaking at the 2nd Radical New Bar presser and public engagement live session held at the Uganda Law Society House, Mr Anthony Asiimwe, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, said the initiative seeks to create synergy between sports, counselling and healthcare to promote holistic wellbeing among lawyers.
He noted that lawyers face immense mental and emotional strain due to the adversarial and highly competitive nature of their profession. He added that financial pressures, driven by what he described as the capitalist character of legal practice, further compound stress levels within the fraternity.
Asiimwe observed that many lawyers do not give deliberate and intentional attention to mental wellness, a gap he said has left several practitioners struggling with mental anguish.
In response, the Radical New Bar has rolled out partnerships with various law firms and other institutions to establish the Lawyers League, a tournament designed to bring together lawyers from law firms and ministries, departments and agencies to participate in sports such as football, netball and padel.
The initiative is intended to encourage regular participation in co-curricular activities and help lawyers build wellness beyond the confines of offices and courtrooms.
Asiimwe also revealed that the Radical New Bar has signed memoranda of understanding with several counselling and guidance firms across the country to extend professional mental health support services to lawyers.
The programme further highlights the role of the Uganda Law Society Health and Benevolent Fund in supporting members during critical illness by offering financial assistance to help cover medical expenses.
Mental wellness recently featured prominently at the Annual Judges Conference held ahead of the Judiciary New Law Year, where Chief Justice Flavian Zeija emphasized the importance of psychological wellbeing in improving efficiency and effectiveness among judicial officers.
Through the new campaign, the Uganda Law Society is reiterating the central role of mental wellness in strengthening the overall performance and resilience of Uganda’s legal profession.