Uganda Law Society: Mbarara Lawyers Train on Land, Commercial Justice

Legal practitioners from Uganda's western region gathered in Mbarara on October 13, 2026, for a training session on Land and Commercial Justice, organised by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) in partnership with several international and governmental bodies. This initiative, also involving the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), the Governance and Security (JLOS) Secretariat, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda, aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of lawyers in these critical and often complex areas of law.

This training is highly significant for practitioners as it directly addresses capacity building in two fundamental and frequently litigated fields: land law and commercial law. By equipping legal professionals with updated knowledge and best practices, such initiatives contribute to more efficient dispute resolution, improved legal advice for clients, and ultimately, greater public confidence in the legal system for individuals and businesses engaged in land transactions or commercial activities. For the broader Ugandan legal system, it underscores a commitment to continuous professional development and the harmonisation of legal practice standards across different regions, fostering a more robust and equitable justice delivery system.

Uganda's legal framework for land is primarily governed by the 1995 Constitution, the Land Act Cap 227, and various subsidiary legislations, which delineate different tenure systems, land registration processes, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Commercial law is equally extensive, encompassing the Companies Act 2012, contract law, insolvency law, and numerous sector-specific regulations. The training likely covered recent amendments, judicial interpretations, and practical application of these laws. The involvement of the JLOS Secretariat highlights the government's commitment to improving justice sector performance, while the ULS plays a crucial role in regulating and developing the legal profession. The Ugandan court hierarchy, including the Magistrates Courts, High Court (with its specialised Land and Commercial Divisions), Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, frequently adjudicates matters in these domains.

The key parties involved in organising this training were the Uganda Law Society (ULS), the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), the Governance and Security (JLOS) Secretariat, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda. The primary beneficiaries were legal practitioners from Uganda's western region, who participated in the session to sharpen their expertise.

Attorneys and legal professionals, particularly those practicing in Uganda's western region, should recognise the ongoing efforts to enhance legal capacity in land and commercial justice. They should actively seek out and participate in such training initiatives to stay abreast of legal developments, refine their skills, and ensure they provide competent and up-to-date advice to clients. This also signals a potential focus by the judiciary and regulatory bodies on these areas, implying a need for practitioners to be particularly diligent and well-informed in their practice to effectively navigate the evolving legal landscape.