UCU Jessup Team Prepares for Washington D.C.

The UCU Jessup Team has filed their written submissions and is now in preparation for oral rounds in the Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition in Washington D.C.

The UCU Jessup Team Members are: Manzi Moses (LLB 4), Judy Kyalimpa (LLB 4), Justus Amanyire (LLB 4), Matsiko Samuel (LLB 3) and Lucie Wanjiku. The fourth year students will be making the trip to Washington D.C.

At this time the team from UCU is not guaranteed a spot in the international rounds. A team from Makerere University has also filed written submissions. As only one team from Uganda will be participant in the international round there will need to be a national run-off on Saturday, March 20th in Washington D.C.

The International Rounds begin on Sunday March 21st and conclude on Saturday March 27th.

The Jessup Competition is internationally recognized as the largest and most prestigious moot court competition in the world.

African Human RIghts Moot

The African Human Rights Moot Court Competition will be held in University of Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin in September - early October 2010.

All African law faculties are invited to participate in this competition. Moot teams are to consist of one male law student and one female law student.

The Uganda Christian University Moot Programme will select a team to compete in this moot.

For more information on the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition please visit

India Moot Team Preforms Well

A team from Uganda Christian University preformed very well in the 13th Annual M.M. Singhvi International Moot Court Competition in Jodhpur, India. (Rajastan)

The UCU team was comprised of Ruhombora Sarah, Byamugisha Moses and Mercy Grace Kisinza.

The Competition was hosted by National Law University (Jodhpur)

The UCU team wrote the highest scoring single memorial in the competition and had the second highest composite score for its two memorial submissions. This is a significant accomplishment given the fact that the competition featured 48 teams, including teams from as far away as the United States and Australia.

In the oral rounds the team had the 3rd highest score among all competitors after the first two rounds.

The team advanced to the Octagon round and failed to advance to the semi-final round based on comparative scoring differentials.

All in all the team should be congratulated for an excellent effort and a great showing for Uganda Christian University at the International level.

Initial Team Assignments for Upcoming National and International Moots

Initial Team Assignments for Upcoming Moot Season, 2009-2010

The following are brief descriptions of the external moot competitions that the Faculty of Law intends to compete in over the upcoming year as well initial team assignments for these competitions. All selections have been made by the Moot Programme Director.
The selections are based on past experience and dedication to the moot programme, performance in the UCU Intra-University Moot, academic performance, and demonstrated ability to speak in the class room setting.

The Philip Jessup International Moot Competition: Only one team from Uganda may participate in the International Moot Competition that takes place each March in Washington D.C. If additional teams from Uganda register for this competition there will be a national competition in order to select a Ugandan representative. The initial team members for the UCU Jessup Team are as follows:

Manzi Moses
Amanyire Justus
Kyamimpa Judy
Matsiko Samuel
(One additional female team member to be selected from the rising third year female, September Intake)

APILU and ULSSO International Human Rights Moot Court Competition: UCU can select one team of two students to participate in the APILU/ULSSO Moot. This Moot is to take place on Friday, 18th September 2009 at Makerere University. The initial team members for the UCU Jessup Team are as follows:

Sewalli Alexandria
Tinuoye Funso

The Uganda National Moot Competition on International Humanitarian Law: UCU is guaranteed one spot in the Uganda National Moot Competition. There is a possibility that a second team will be permitted to compete depending on the participation of other law programmes in Uganda. Therefore two teams have been named. There will be competition in Kampala on Friday, 16th October 2009. If a team from UCU wins the competition that team will advance to participate in an East African IHL competition in Arusha Tanzania in Late November. The initial team members are as follows:

Team 1:
Afoyorworth Winnie
Mollo Kenneth
Iguma Gabriel

Team 2:
Kasula Racheal
Murangira Hillary
Onyait Perez

Rwanda Moot Competition: Rwanda has begun an International Moot Court Competition focusing on issues of Human Rights. If there is a Competition in May term of 2010 the initial team members are as follows:

Kahunde Claire
Ahimbisibwe Federiko

2009 UCU Intra-University Moot Competition Results

This years winning team is Anamyire Justus, Sewali Alexandria and Ahimbisibwe Federiko.

Congratulations!

Also, we recognise the excellent effort of the runner-up team, Matsiko Samuel, Bulungu John and Joan Muganga.

Thank you to all of the participants as well as the Lecturers and Staff of the Faculty for making this year's competition possible.

Also, special thanks to the Hon. Justice Joseph Muhangira and Dean Kenneth Starr for their service as panellists in the final round.

Background Information on National Moot Competition on IHL

THE UGANDA NATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION ON INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW 2009.


Friday, 16th October 2009.




Background Information





Contacts;
Brian Bwesigye Communications Department
Uganda Law Students’ Society International Committee for the Red Cross
Mobile; +256782036263 Tel; 0414341605
Email; bbwesigye@gmail.com Email; com.kam@icrc.org

Background
Within the frame work of its mandate to support the efforts of states in disseminating International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Uganda Law Students’ Society (ULSSO) with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Uganda has organized the Uganda National Moot Court competitions on IHL , which will take place on 16th, October, 2009. The competition is open to undergraduate students and is intended to expose students to IHL and humanitarian action through simulation and advocacy.

Objectives
a) To develop an increased awareness and interest in International Humanitarian Law in academic institutions throughout Uganda.

b) To use International Humanitarian Law to further academic excellence in the student community.

c) To develop students’ advocacy skills in an environment of friendly competition.

d) To provide students with access to knowledge, information and materials on International Humanitarian Law so they can disseminate the same.

e) To initiate more student involvement in International Humanitarian Law promotion activities and initiatives.

Organization
This competition is organized on the model of De Martens and Jean Pictete International Moot Court Competition, on which the Annual International Moot Court Competition on IHL in Arusha Tanzania is based on. The participants will be placed in an imaginary humanitarian crisis and will be required to play different roles in the mock-up. A document with background information about the context of the problem will be provided to the participants in time to prepare adequately for the competition. The facts will be based on contemporary conflicts, without referring directly to any real situation. The competition will involve only two rounds, namely, the Group Round and the Final Round.

The Group Round
On the day of the competition, the teams will be divided into two clusters and each team per cluster given a role to play for purposes of the Group Round. To choose a cluster, teams will be picked randomly by a draw of lots. Teams compete simultaneously by playing roles according to the instructions given to each in the two clusters. Judges will award marks according to the performance of each team in the role assigned to it. From each cluster, the best team qualifies for the Final Round.

The Final Round
For purposes of the Final Round, the two best teams from the Group Round clusters teams will cast lots to pick sides for the final appearance. The best team will be decided according to their understanding and application of International Humanitarian Law to the problem in regard to the sides they will be arguing for in the final.
Each finalist receives a medal; the winning team takes the Competition trophy and will represent Uganda at the International Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law in Arusha Tanzania.

Participants
Each university is expected to send not more than two teams to the competition, but in the event that some universities do not send any team, the organizers will invite teams from the other universities. The ICRC will sponsor the best team from the Moot Court Competition to represent Uganda at the Arusha International Moot Court Competition on IHL organized by the Nairobi delegation. A team will constitute three students representing an institution. Participants are expected to be familiar with IHL.

Role of the Universities
The participating universities should advertise the competition to the relevant categories of students. The universities should facilitate their teams to pay the registration fee and also their preparation for the Moot Court competition.

Important Dates to Note.

Date Activity
4th, September, 2009 Deadline for Registration of Teams and Payment of Registration fees.
14th, September, 2009 Sending of Background Facts to the Problem to the teams.
16th, October, 2009 Competition Day.

Tentative Programme of the Day.
Time Item/Activity
08:00am Arrival and Registration of Participants.
08:30am Briefing and an introductory note on the Role of the ICRC and Moot Court Competitions.
09:20am Issuing of Instructions for the Group Round
09:30am BREAK TEA
10:00am Group Round
12:30pm Announcement of Finalists
12:40pm Issuing of Instructions for the Final Round
01:00pm LUNCH BREAK
02:00pm Final Round
04:30pm Announcement of Winners and Prize Awarding





















The Uganda National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law 2009.

Registration Form.
TEAM REGISTRATION.
Name of Team:
Name of University
Name of the Team Coach:
Contact Telephone Number:
Contact Email Address:

STUDENT REGISTRATION.
Participant 1.

First Name:
Surname:
Sex:
Date of Birth:
Year of Study:
Telephone Number:
Email:

Participant 2.
First Name:
Surname:
Sex:
Date of Birth:
Year of Study:
Telephone Number:
Email:

Participant 3.
First Name:
Surname:
Sex:
Date of Birth:
Year of Study:
Telephone Number:
Email:

Announcement Regarding the Uganda National Moot Court Competition on

We have received the following communication from the president of the Uganda Law Students Society.

UCU will be selecting six rising 4th year students for participation in this competition on behalf of Uganda Christian University. However, it is likely that only three students will ultimately be permitted to participate. Students selected for participation will likely be those enrolled in IHL September Semester. However, exceptions may be made.

If you have a genuine interest in participating in this competition please contact Brian Dennison via e-mail at dbriandennison@gmail.com


The Uganda National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law 2009.

The Uganda Law Students Society with the support of the delegation of the International Committee for the Red Cross in Uganda with pleasure invite your institution to take part in the Uganda National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law 2009 which will take place on Friday, 16th, October, 2009.

To participate in the competition, announce the same to your students, so they form teams of three students each and fill forms of registration. Each student participant pays a modest registration fee of U Shs. 100,000/= which must reach the organizers by 4th, September, 2009.

Six teams, at least one from each university in Uganda will participate in the competition, though a university can register up to two teams. The organizers reserve the right to invite universities to register extra teams in case six teams from different universities have not yet registered by 4th, September, 2009.

We will send the documents containing the facts of the imaginary situation to the six teams after confirmation of their registration to allow them prepare adequately for the Group and Final rounds. The best overall team at the Final Round will represent Uganda at the International Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law in Arusha Tanzania, with full support from the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC).

For more information, consult a document containing background information which will be sent to you shortly or contact Uganda Law Students’ Society (ULSSO) or the ICRC Delegation in Uganda.

Respectfully yours;

Mr. Brian Bwesigye
Uganda Law Students’ Society