The Law Development Centre (LDC) today morning graduated a total of 1040 students in their 47th Graduation Ceremony.
The students, some of them lawyers, whereas others not, graduated in the Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (494), Diploma in Law (507) and Diploma in Human Rights (39) after every individual name was read out for the record.
The ceremony was attended by many guests who included the parents to the graduands, Justices of the Courts of Uganda and Magistrates, including Lord Justice Steven Mubiru who seemed to be the the graduands favourite following the ovation that was given.
The government ministries were also present, notably the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service, one of the persons holding access to employment with the government, President and Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, the Deputy Inspector General of Government, representation from the Uganda Human Rights Commission and the Lord Mayor of Kampala among other guests.
The guest of honor at the ceremony was Senior Counsel, Mr. John W. Katende of Katende, Ssempebwa and Co. Advocates. He promised to speak like a lay person, not like a lawyer and delivered his message.
“Lawyers need to live comfortably, but don’t just think about money.” He advised the students citing examples of lawyers he knows who have failed to make it in life because of love for money.
He further advised the students to think carefully about the decisions they are to make and asked that they treat everyone with respect and not to discriminate anyone.
“Do things which you like or enjoy doing” he said revealing that he rejected offers by the President of Uganda on three occasions to appoint him the Minister of Justice of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. “Treat everybody like your own”.
Awards were given to the best performing students in the categories of Chief Justice’s Prize to the Best Overall Graduate on the Post, Attorney General’s Prize to the Second Best Graduate, Principal Judge’s Prize to the Third Best Graduate, Uganda Law Society Prize to the Fourth Best Graduate, Director of Public Prosecutions to the Best Graduate in Criminal Proceedings, 6 Ligomarc Advocates Prize to the Best Graduate in Professional Ethics, Agaba Muhairwe Advocates Prize to the Best Graduate in Corporate and Commercial Practice, Acadia Advocates Prize to the Best Graduate in Civil Litigation which were awarded to the lawyers for the post graduate Diploma in legal practice.
Other awards were given to students pursuing the diploma in human rights law in the categories of Chairperson, Uganda Human Rights Commission Prize, Best Overall Graduate on the Diploma in Human Rights Course 2018, Chairperson LDC, Management Committee Prize to the Second Best Graduate, LDC Director’s Prize to the Third Best Graduate.
The third categories awards were for the students pursuing a diploma in law course in the categories of Minister of Public Service Prize to the Best Overall Graduate on the Diploma in Law Course 2018/2019, Chairperson LDC, Management Committee Prize to the Second Best Graduate, LDC Director’s Prize to the Third Best Graduate.
Congratulations to all the graduands.
