KIU Main Campus - In scintillating and exhilarating moments on Saturday, 30th March 2024, KIU emerged as National Champions at the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition for Uganda. The Space Law Competition is themed, "Case Concerning the Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies and The Freedom of Scientific Investigation".

The Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition presents an opportunity for various universities and institutions to showcase their legal knowledge, advocacy skills, and critical thinking abilities. The competition serves as a platform for students to engage in rigorous intellectual discourse, gain practical experience, and foster camaraderie within the legal community.

The KIU Team represented by Jonathan Areeba, Anguzu Raymond and Marvin Nsereko competed with other contestants from Makerere University and Cavendish University Uganda. After the preliminary round, among the universities, KIU and Makerere University slugged it out in the final round where KIU emerged as the winner.

As the national winner, KIU will represent Uganda at the Africa Regional Competition in South Africa. After which the winner will represent Africa at the World Finals where the regional winners from Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America and Latin America will compete.

During the competition which lasted for 10 hours, staff and students from the School of Law were on the ground to show their support. Among them were Dr. Olawunmi Obisesan, the HOD, Department of Clinical Legal Education, Dr. Antai Owoche the HOD PG and Diploma Law, Mr. Charles Okonji, the lecturer-in-charge of Moot and Muhumuza Livingston, a final year law student at KIU.

In her remarks, the elated Dr. Obisesan said, "I salute the tenacity of the KIU team they made us proud, and indeed KIU is moulding lives for the future. Even though the competition was between the three schools, it was tough! I have no doubts that the regional rounds shall be a win for us as well.

She also praised the University Management for their tremendous support.

"The KIU university management amazed me, the support is beyond words, not only financially but they kept asking me for updates and sending their prayers and words of encouragement till the last minute. I am convinced that the establishment of the Department of Clinical Legal Education in KIU is indeed a right step in the right direction towards building the legal skills of our students through practical training. I am proud to be identified with KIU", she concluded.

Over the years, the KIU School of Law (SoL) has demonstrated great capacity at the Law Moot Court Competition. In 2023, KIU law students were finalists at the ICRC Moot Court competitions organized by the Red Cross Society, and the Technology Moot Court competition organized by CTDRU. Furthermore, they were semifinalists at the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Competition, Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition, Human Health Moot Court Competition, and the FIDA Moot Court Competition.

About Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition

The Manfred Lachs Moot Court Competition (MLMC), established in 1992 by H.E. Manfred Lachs, a former judge and president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is an international moot court competition organized by the International Institute of Space Law (IISL).