ULS Given that Uganda was a British colony, the British colony, the British legal system and law are predominant in Uganda where English common law and customary law when not in conflict with the constitution are applicable.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS)
ULS is corporate body established by the Uganda Law Society Act (Cap 276). Its mission is to improve the professional standards of members of the legal profession, and to promote human rights, and the rule of law in Uganda by assisting the Government and the judiciary in the administration of justice and practice of law for the benefit of the people of Uganda
The ULS is governed by an executive council with representatives from each of the four regions of Uganda. It is a member of the East Africa Law Society which also includes members from Kenya, Tanzania, Kigali and Burundi.
Mission
To improve the professional standards of members of the Legal Profession, and to promote Human Rights, and the Rule of Law in Uganda by assisting the Government and the Judiciary in the Administration and practice of Law for the benefit of the people of Uganda.
Vision
To excel as a professional body in the development of the legal profession and the promotion of justice in Uganda.
Goal
To contribute towards a public well served by a competent, ethical, honourable and independent legal profession.
Its objectives are:
To maintain and improve the standards of conduct and learning of the legal profession in Uganda.
To facilitate the acquisition of legal knowledge by members of the legal profession in Uganda.
To represent, protect and assist members of the legal profession in Uganda.
To protect and assist the public in Uganda in matters involving the law.
To assist the Government and the courts in all matters affecting legislation and the administration and practice of the law in Uganda
To maintain and improve the standards of conduct and learning of the legal profession in Uganda.
To strengthen collaboration with the Government of Uganda, the Judiciary and the Legislature on all matters affecting Legislation, Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance and the Administration and Practice of law in Uganda.
To promote networking, collaboration of local and international stakeholders and legal fraternities by building linkages and exchange of expertise in the legal profession.
Governance of Uganda Law Society
The Uganda Law Society is governed by an Executive Council consisting of 10 people. The Executive Council is thus responsible for policy development and Guidance of the Society programmes and its activities.
In order to ensure comprehensive and equitable representation of lawyers across Uganda on the Executive Council, the Council has a Representative from each of the four regions of Uganda. The composition also emphasizes gender equity and participation, with emphasis on female representation and participation as one of its guiding principles.
The composition of the Council is as follows:
The President of the Uganda Law Society
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Seven (7) Council Members
Representative from the Attorney General’s Office
Representative from the Solicitor General’s Office
The Uganda law Society Executive council:
The Council conducts and implements its activities through the following committees:
Finance and Administration Committee.
Professional Development Committee.
Human Rights and Governance Committee.
Legal Aid and Pro Bono Services Committee.
Research and Publications Committee.
Social and Members Affairs Committee.
Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee.
Policy, Legislation and Advocacy Committee.
International Relations Committee
The day-to-day implementation of the Society’s programs and activities is undertaken by the Secretariat, which is headed by the Executive Director and compartmentalized into five departments. These are the departments:
Policy, Advocacy and Members Affairs
This is headed by a Head of Department, with the objective of ‘Conducting periodic analysis and review of laws and policies to inform; and to design programs and activities aimed at improving the professional and social welfare of the Legal Fraternity in Uganda.
Legal Aid and Pro Bono Services
This is headed by a Head of Department, with the objective of ‘Promoting access to justice for the Indigent men, women and children in Uganda through provision of legal aid advisory services and legal and human rights awareness campaigns. Under this Department, the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda law Society is running 7 regional legal aid clinics across all regions of the country.
The Legal Resource Centre
The Legal Resource Centre is headed by a Manager, with the objective of ‘Empowering the legal practitioners in Uganda with easily accessible current legal resource materials and texts; and to establish and maintain an effective information flow system for all the legal practitioners in Uganda.
Finance and Administration
This is headed by a Head of Department, with objective of ‘Ensuring optimal and efficient resource utilization at the Secretariat, and over-seeing the Administrative and Human Resources of the Secretariat.
Continuing Legal Education
This is headed by a Manager, with the objective of ‘Continuous Professional skills enhancement of lawyers in Uganda to ensure harmony with the developments within the legal fraternity across the globe’.
Source: www.uls.or.ug