Francis Gimara, the President Law Society of Uganda

Lawyers, Insurance companies, Human Resource Managers, Insurance Brokers and the Actuarial Association of Uganda have opposed a move by Ministry of Finance to withdraw the Pension Reform Retirement Benefits Sector Liberation Bill 2011 from Parliament, saying that the reforms will increase domestic savings and enhance investments.

Addressing a press conference this week in Kampala, the managers of these organizations led by Gimara Francis, President Uganda Law Society, say that the ministry should allow reforms in the pension sector so that workers can save their money with the scheme of their choice.

He wonders the motive behind with drawing of the bill yet the committee of finance has gathered sufficient views to make a report to Parliament.

The bill seeks to leave 19% savings with National Social Security Fund and the 5%savings will go to other private players.

The same bill was withdrawn from Parliament in 2014 by Government on claims that it had duplicated issues in the disputed law.

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Hon. Francis Mwijukye the MP who has started a debate tasking government to explain the situation of Ugandans in detention abroad.

The matter has been presented to the floor of parliament by the MP for Buhweju County in Bushenyi district Francis Mwijukye who claims that a number of Ugandans are detained in foreign countries without trial.

He gave a case in point of Sam Mugumya former Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s aid who has now spent over two years in DR. Congo detention without access to his lawyers or relatives.

Aruu County MP in Pader district, Odonga Otto wants the minister of foreign affairs to explain to parliament whether there is a possibility of all Ugandans incarcerated in different foreign countries to be brought back and tried in Uganda.

The speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga after listening to the 2 MPs making their submissions on the matter later directed the ministers of foreign affairs Sam Kutesa and his deputy to make a statement over this matter.

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Salongo Nkoyoyo, the security head in Kisenyi a Kampala suburb says that dragging officers and their bosses to court may not be the solution to ending brutality as many members of the public think.

He says the police force instead needs to reactive community meetings in various parts of the city so as to rebuild the lost trust and end the current impasse of the public castigated the police for excessive use of force in dispersing especially opposition crowds.Nkoyoyo said this in an exlusive interview with weinformer.com in Kisenyi.

He said was when dialogue is given chance; there will once again be a peaceful co-existence between the police and the people.

Police officers aboard their patrol can seen lashing sticks at residents standing along Entebbe road.

Recent weeks have seen the public criticise the police force for what they say is a use of brutality to the citizens.

The crisis was mainly caused by an uproar from the public after local television stations broadcast footages of stick- wielding policemen lashing out at members of the opposition who were recently jubilating the release on bail of 4 time presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye.

Besigye had been incarcerated in Luzira maximum prison where he spent close to 2 months after being charged with treason.

The police force reacted by arraigning some of the officers in court and charged with using excessive force on opposition supporters and tarnishing the name of the force.

However, a section of about 20 lawyers have since filled a case against the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura and other senior officers saying they should appear in court to answer to charges of torture. The case is currently at the chief magistrate’s court in Makindye.

Other sections of Civil Society have also castigated the police including by rights activists, legislators and development partners following the beating up of Besigye’s support something they say was under mining human rights.

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This is after lawyers representing Kalungi, the key suspect in the death of Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda raised queries over the charge sheet.

the accused, Adam Suleiman Kalungi

Led by Mcdusman Kabega and Yunus Kasirivu, the lawyers argued that the charge of supplying and dispensing restricted drugs does not indicate the dates when the said drugs were supplied.

The lawyers also point to the fact that the charge sheet does not state who received the drugs or which specific drugs they are.

The Chief Magistrate Esther Nambayo agreed with the lawyers and has struck the charge off the charge sheet.

Kalungi now faces charges of man slaughter and unlawful possession of narcotic drugs.

He has however declined to apply for bail for fear of being re-arrested but his co-accused persons are currently applying for bail before the court.

The case has now been adjourned to February 5^th when the Magistrate shall rule on whether or not to grant the five suspects bail.

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A total of 174 lawyers missed their graduation on Thursday after failing the final and supplementary exams.

The LDC exams were conducted two months back and the lawyers who failed the papers will have to re-sit the papers. We have the names of the lawyers who failed the bar exams but we shall not reveal them because we don’t want to shame them.

The Diploma in Legal practice takes 11 months. However failure rates at the LDC have gone down from 93% in 2009/2010 to 74% in 2010/2011 according to LDC records. No one is allowed to practice law in Uganda unless that person studies the bar course.

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Five top city criminal lawyers in Kampala have left the country to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on sponsorship of an International human rights group/ organisation.

Caleb Alaka (30^th March) and Samuel Muyizzi Mulindwa (2^nd April) are among those who are set to leave the country to the to the pre trial chamber of the ICC.

When contacted, Caleb Alaka said it is a study trip at the pre trial chamber of the ICC and they are expected to discuss several procedural matters and cases before this Court from the great lakers region and most probably some matters touching the indictments of LRA top commanders.

They will also discuss about the progress of the International Crimes Division (ICD) of the high court of Uganda, a special division created to try International related crimes and crimes against humanity.

The case against Thomas Kwoyelo is expected to dominate the discussion about the ICD performance. It is a case which has put to test the judicial system of Uganda as kwoyelo who was released by the Constitutional court remains remanded at Luzira without a valid remand warrant.

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The lawyers told the media in Kampala that they want the prohibition and prevention of Torture Bill once passed into an act to punish both state actors and private persons who violate peoples’ rights.

The ‘Learned Friends’ also demand that the people whose rights have been violated by the state and private actors be compensated.

Uganda is one of the countries in the world which tortures suspects in order to obtain information.

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LLM Scholarship in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law: LLM Scholarship in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law – Ohio Northern University, USA

The LLM Scholarship in Democratic Governance and Rule of Law is open to young lawyers from emerging democracies.

It provides young lawyers from emerging democracies with the training and tools to implement law reforms that support stable democratic institutions and the rule of law in a free-market economy.

The LL.M. is a fully-funded, one-year program of study designed for lawyers practicing in the public sector whose first law degree was earned from a law school outside the U.S.

This program is not designed to help our students pass the American Bar and/or practice law in the United States. Students are required to commit to 2 years further public service upon return to their home countries.

Through small classes with outstanding faculty, close interaction among the students and with the faculty, and numerous short seminars and field observations, students will receive an intensive education in practical democracy and law.

Admission is open to lawyers with two to five years experience in the public sector, working on governance and rule of law issues.

Additional criteria include a recognized law degree, admission to the bar, a PBT TOEFL score of 600 or higher or a CBT TOEFL score of 250 or higher, and recommendations (including those from employers, and U.S. foreign aid offices and contractors). The personal statement from the applicant will also be weighed heavily.

The final selection will be made by the director and LL.M. committee at the law college.

For more information and scholarship applications

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The supporters of the Democratic Party have threatened to storm Luzira prison, break into its gates and set free the political prisoners detained there without trail.

The Public Relations Officer of the Democratic Party, Jude Mbabaali says that DP wants the government to release the 23 Bugandariot suspects who have been jailed at Luzira prison since September 2009.

Mbabali says that DP has given the government only 30 days ultimatum to start the trial of the case of these 23 suspects. Speaking at the DP head offices, Mbabali said that failure by the government to release the suspects the party would use violent means to secure their immediate release.

Mbabali says that DP lawyers headed by Mukasa Mbidde, Medard Seggona and Erias Lukwago have visited all the offices concerned in a bid to secure the release of the suspects. Mbabali says that the party has written to chief justice Benjamin Odoki over the issue.

Ultimate Media

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