LDC clears recalled diplomas for 7 lawyers

Kampala.

The Law Development Centre (LDC) has confirmed post-graduate diplomas in legal practice of seven lawyers whose certificates had been recalled until they sat and passed special examinations in different subjects.

In February, the LDC recalled diplomas for six graduate lawyers: Mr Denis Mukasa Mbidde (member of East African Legislative Assembly), Mr Friday Roberts Kagoro, Michael Ezadri Onyafia, Deo Kizito Lutalo, Felistas Muloiti Nafula and Florence Kataike who were required to sit special examinations in Criminal Proceedings and another lawyer, Ms Jackie Evelyn Nakalembe who was to sit special exams in Land Transactions.

In an August 22 notice titled Special and Supplementary Final examinations results, the academic registrar and secretary to the LDC Board of Examiners Everest Turyahikayo confirmed that the lawyers had passed the course and their previously recalled diplomas have now been certified.

Mr Kizito, Mbidde and Ms Nakalembe had completed their diplomas in 2008/2009 academic year while Mr Kagoro, Mr Onyafi and Mr Kataike completed in 2007/2008.

In 2014, the LDC administration instituted an inquiry into diplomas in legal practice acquired between 2004 and 2011. The investigating committee discovered that the lawyers mentioned above had not passed the diplomas.

On February 11, 2016 the LDC Management Committee reviewed the findings and resolved to recall the diplomas until the affected lawyers sat and passed special examinations in the affected subjects.

During the same meeting, basing on the findings and recommendations of the probe committee, the LDC also cancelled diploma certificates of nine other lawyers for examination malpractices.

They were: Michael Mabikke (former Makindye East MP), Ms Fiona Asiimwe Rwakiseeta, Mr David Balondemu, Mr Dennis Jenkins Kyazze, Moses Mugimba Muhumuza, Priscilla Mutebi, Dorothy Amuron, Joseph Lubega and Jane Namaganda.

They petitioned court seeking orders to reinstate their diploma certificates and the case is still pending.

Cancellation of diploma certificates in legal practice means that the affected individuals cannot represent clients in court. The law requires that only advocates with a post-graduate diploma in legal practice from LDC are eligible to represent litigants in court.

Kagoro and Mbidde speak out
Mr Kagoro and Mbidde separately confirmed the development yesterday in an interview saying that there was nothing new in the LDC decision because their work was never affected.

“By confirming the diploma I already had is nothing new. They have returned the same diploma indicating that I passed without showing me the marks,” said Mr Kagoro, adding that he was consulting his lawyers for a possible suit against LDC for alleged defamation.

Mr Mbidde said: “They took our documents publicly but they brought them on the tip of their toes. I personally called it petulance. You take something from somebody and give a directive to sit examinations but the results are not given.”

Mr Mbidde said LDC sent him an old diploma certificate, which ought to have come with an apology.

“If this (apology) is not done and advertising not done for the return of the documents, I am not taking it lightly. This was orchestrated to break me the more after the death of my wife but now they should announce me as a champion,” said Mr Mbidde.

Recalled diplomas

Cancellation of diploma certificates in legal practice means that the affected individuals cannot represent clients in court. The law requires that only advocates with a post-graduate diploma in legal practice from LDC are eligible to represent litigants in court.