Uganda’s parliament is sounding the alarm about the falling standards of legal education, with lawmakers now proposing major changes to how lawyers are trained in the country. During a recent meeting with justice officials, members of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee raised serious concerns about the flood of law graduates entering the profession without proper skills.

The debate comes as Uganda sees a boom in law schools producing hundreds of graduates each year. Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu argued that the current system is failing to prepare young lawyers properly. “Even those who pass through the Law Development Centre (LDC) still lack something,” he said. His solution? Make law a second degree that students can only pursue after completing another undergraduate program first.

Katuntu believes this change would create better lawyers. “If someone first studies medicine or business, then goes into law, they become specialists in areas like medical lawsuits or investment cases,” he explained. The idea is that students with broader education would bring more expertise to the legal field.

Soroti Woman MP Anna Adeke added her voice to the concerns, pointing out that LDC expects 4,000 to 5,000 students next year. She questioned whether regulators can maintain quality with such numbers. “How are we ensuring these future lawyers are actually competent?” Adeke asked.

While discussing legal education, Justice Minister Norbert Mao also shared updates on the Attorney General’s work. His office won 285 cases between July 2024 and April 2025, saving Uganda 379.9 billion shillings. However, this was lower than the previous year’s 311 wins worth 2.784 trillion. The government also lost 107 cases costing 173 billion shillings.

Mao used these numbers to argue for better pay for state lawyers. He wants their salaries increased or their income tax removed, just like prosecutors at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions enjoy. “Our attorneys save huge amounts – equal to three years of Parish Development Model funding,” Mao said.

But Kibaale County MP Richard Oseku wasn’t fully satisfied. He noted that out of 6,878 cases handled last year, only 418 had clear outcomes reported. “Where is the accountability for the rest?” he asked.

The meeting also touched on the plight of Ugandans imprisoned overseas. MP Adeke brought up the recent case of Justice Lydia Mugambe, convicted of slavery in the UK, asking what happens to less famous citizens jailed abroad. “What about those in China, UAE, or Turkey?” she pressed.

Meanwhile, a proposal for Uganda to host the African Union Humanitarian Agency with 360 billion shillings faced pushback. Ndorwa East MP Wilfred Niwagaba doubted the plan, asking if it was just a way to attract donor money. Minister Mao defended the request, saying even 180 billion would help launch this important regional project.

As discussions continue, Uganda faces tough questions – how to train better lawyers, protect citizens abroad, and spend limited funds wisely. The push to reform legal education may be just the start of bigger changes ahead for the country’s justice system.

The final challenge? Balancing the need for more legal professionals with the demand for quality, ensuring Uganda’s courts and citizens get the skilled lawyers they deserve. With parliament now engaged, the coming months could see major shifts in how Uganda educates its future judges and advocates.