Kampala International University (KIU) has won the 2021 International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC)‘s International Humanitarian Law University Moot Court. Competitions.
Four Universities including; KIU, Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU), Uganda Christian University (UCU), and Makerere University participated in the competitions.
IUIU were the runners-up at a grand awarding ceremony that was held at ICRC Head offices in Kampala.
KIU was represented by Tabitha Kwagala, the best Orator, and Jonathan Areeba, while IUIU had Rob Ebubura and Abdul Swamadu Ssebayiga.
UCU’s Patience won the Individual Excellence award while Makerere did not get any.
During these competitions, law students of different Universities are brought together on. Moot Court, divided into State Persecutors and Defense Lawyer and are given a Case to debate on an International scale and the winners go to the next level. IUIU defeated Makerere into the finals while KIU beat UCU.
The winners will now represent Uganda at a regional level where they choose Africa’s representatives for the international level.
Jane Patricia Bako, the Communications and Prevention Manager at ICRC told said that the compensations are intended to bring together students to compete on any IHL related matter so that they come out of Campus when they know what to do.
“It’s intended to breed the breed of young lawyers or students who can discuss issues of international humanitarian law,” she said.
Bako said several Universities have been participating but this year only four showed interest.
International Humanitarian Law, she said is key in managing conflict in the world.
Rizik, Nambuya, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at IUIU and an IHL Coach said that they started participating in this competition in 2010 and have since helped a number of students who involve in them.
“It exposes students to meet with colleagues at National and International level and debate on pertinent issues and this build their confidence and capacity so that by the time they graduate into full lawyers, they know what to do better,” she said
Jenifer Ameo the KIU Patron Law Society said that such competitions will help build the capacity and confidence of future lawyers and State Prosecutors since they are even competing using international law.
“This was a great opportunity to see the young generation showcase knowledge and skills in a specific field of the Law. It was an opportunity for us to Mentor them and prepare them for practical situations in lifting their career. We thank ICRC for this platform and we look forward to greater future opportunities for the young generation in the field of IHL,” she said.
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