Lawmakers to probe LDC over poor conduct, high failure rates

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Lawmakers note that the institution is a monopoly with poor structures

PARLIAMENT

Parliament yesterday agreed to investigate the Law Development Centre (LDC) over allegations of unethical conduct among its professional advisers and its high failure rates.
MPs also called for an investigation into what they called poor structure and design of the bar course, promotion of examination malpractices and unseriousness by LDC authorities.
“The existing laws have created a monopoly of the LDC in the facilitation of the post graduate bar course with unacceptable failure rates, unethical conduct of professional advisers, promotion of a state of fear among students …,” Mr Jacob Oboth Oboth (West Budaama South), said in a petition he tabled before Parliament on Wednesday.
LDC is the only institution in Uganda which admits law graduates from other universities so that they obtain a diploma in legal practice.
According to Regulation 2 of the Advocates (Enrolment and Certification) Regulations Statutory Instrument number 267, it is a requirement for one to acquire professional skills and experience to enrolment as an advocate, a post graduate bar course and a diploma in legal practice at LDC.
The only other legal qualifications recognised for enrollment of advocates to the courts of judicature in Uganda are those that entitle a person to be called to the bar in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland.
The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, adhered to the MPs call and referred the matter to the Parliamentary Legal Committee that would report back its findings to Parliament within 40 days.
The legislators also noted that the LDC’s admission capacity is very low compared to the enrollment levels.
“Their administration capacity is very low and why is it that students get first class degrees only to fail at LDC unless they have designed a curriculum to fail some people deliberately,” Mr Wadri Kassiano (Terego) said.
Last year, 300 lawyers failed their final bar course examinations at LDC and only 104 passed.
Law graduates are subject to pre-entry examinations to test their knowledge of the core university law courses before they can be enrolled.

More gaps
Rubaga South MP Ken Lukyamuzi said LDC gives little time to train students in legal drafting - a key component for one to qualify as a practicing lawyer. However, Kawempe North MP Latiff Ssebaggala said it puts emphasis on quality control.