Senior Reporter
At the launch of Kabale University’s Faculty of Law in Kabale District, the Kabale High Court Resident Judge, Justice Samuel Emokor, emphasized the need for universities teaching law to incorporate English as a course unit. He highlighted that many lawyers struggle to express themselves adequately in English during court proceedings, which often leaves presiding officers questioning the quality of legal education they received. Justice Emokor recommended that Kabale University’s Law Faculty include English in its curriculum to better prepare graduates for court submissions. He also suggested that all university faculties should admit only students who have passed English with at least a credit at the O’level.
Additionally, Justice Emokor cautioned Kabale University’s Faculty of Law against graduating students who have not successfully completed their law courses, warning against lowering standards out of sympathy or concern over potential student numbers.
The Kabale District Resident Commissioner, Godfrey Nyakahuma, encouraged the Law Faculty to invest in research aimed at addressing the exploitation of the poor by money lenders who use legal loopholes to seize land.
Prof. Joy Kwesiga, Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, expressed her hope that the Law Faculty would instill values of humanity (Ubuntu) in its students, promoting empathy and equality.
The Dean of the Law Faculty, Dr. Charlotte Kabaseke, will lead a team of six teaching staff members in conducting law lectures at Kabale University.
Kabale University, established in 2002 on Kikungiri Hill in Southern Division, Kabale, began as a private institution founded by businesspeople and academics. It transitioned to a community university before becoming a public institution in 2015. That same year, Lira University and Soroti University were also incorporated into the public university system following approval by Uganda’s 9th Parliament.
Since becoming a public university, Kabale University’s student population has grown from 1,500 to over 5,000 by 2024. According to Prof. Kwesiga, Kabale University now ranks second only to Makerere University in terms of human resources, boasting up to 500 staff members.
