Universities in Uganda have been urged to fully adopt competence-based learning as a critical step toward equipping graduates with practical, job-ready skills amid growing concern over unemployment among degree holders.
The call was made during the 2026 Philip C. Jessop International Law Moot Court Competition hosted at Kampala International University (KIU), where education leaders and legal experts emphasized the need to shift from exam-oriented teaching to skills-based training.
Speaking at the event, KIU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Muhammed Ngoma said many graduates struggle in the job market because university education remains overly focused on passing examinations rather than developing real-world competencies.
“One of the challenges we face is that many students focus on passing exams. Training happens in class, but the practice of law happens in courts and in society,” Prof. Ngoma said. “Students should pick these concepts not just to pass exams, but to apply them in real-life situations.”
Uganda introduced the competence-based curriculum (CBC) in 2020, with universities and other institutions of higher learning given until the 2027/2028 academic year to fully align their programmes. The curriculum prioritizes demonstrable skills, knowledge application, and attitudes over rote learning.
Prof. Ngoma noted that competitions such as the Jessop Moot Court provide a practical platform for students to demonstrate competence-based learning in action.
“The Jessop competition is important to law students globally because it tests their ability to apply what they have learnt. This is a clear demonstration of competence-based education,” he said.
Education experts have linked rising graduate unemployment to limited practical exposure and an education system that prioritizes theoretical examinations. Moot court competitions, they argue, help bridge the gap between classroom instruction and professional practice.
The Philip C. Jessop International Law Moot Court Competition, the world’s largest moot court contest, is designed to develop essential legal skills including public speaking, legal research, legal writing, and courtroom advocacy.
Brian Alex Kiira, the National Administrator of the competition, explained that the tournament begins with national rounds held in participating countries worldwide.
“From these rounds, a national champion is crowned and will go on to represent Uganda at the international advanced rounds, which this year will take place in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., later in March,” Kiira said.
He added that the skills developed through the competition are valuable beyond courtroom practice. “The Jessop Competition cultivates public speaking, confidence, legal research, and writing—skills that are essential whether or not one intends to practice law in court.”
Prof. Ngoma encouraged law students to focus on acquiring practical competencies that will prepare them for professional life after graduation.
“Ideally, students should learn in courts of law, but we do not have enough courts to accommodate all law students,” he said. “These competitions therefore act as laboratories where students practise the law.”
The Jessop competition is being held simultaneously in several countries, offering law students a global platform to test their skills and gain international exposure, with national winners earning the opportunity to represent their countries on the world stage.
