ULS proposes 5-year practicing certificates, digital reforms to boost legal efficiency

Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a rallying call to its members and the wider public to unite in pushing for systemic reforms aimed at promoting social justice, professional dignity, and decent work conditions in Uganda’s legal and labour sectors.

In a Labour Day statement issued Thursday, May 01, 2025, the ULS, through Vice President Asiimwe Anthony, decried persistent judicial inefficiencies, bureaucratic bottlenecks in legal practice administration, and the failure to implement landmark rulings; challenges he said continue to erode public trust and undermine the country’s labour rights framework.

“The judiciary’s delays in resolving urgent cases, the non-implementation of landmark decisions like Kabaziguruka, and the cumbersome process of obtaining Practicing Certificates have cumulatively eroded trust, hindered justice, and undermined labour rights,” Asiimwe, who wrote on behalf of President Isaac Ssemakadde, stated on Thursday.

As part of its Radical New Bar (RNB) agenda, the ULS is proposing sweeping reforms to modernize and streamline legal practice in Uganda.

These include a proposal to extend the validity of Practicing Certificates to five years, digitize the entire issuance process to reduce bureaucratic delays, and restore the Law Society’s original mandate to issue the certificates directly.

Additionally, the Radical New Bar is also pushing for district registrars to be temporarily empowered to issue certificates at the local level to promote faster access for practitioners across the country.

“We cannot afford to remain silent in the face of these adversities. We have proposed bold reforms to secure the future of our profession and ensure that justice and fairness are not mere ideals but lived realities for all Ugandans.”

“These reforms include extending the validity of Practicing Certificates to five years, introducing digital issuance to eliminate delays, restoring the authority to issue Practicing Certificates to the Uganda Law Society, and temporarily empowering local registrars to decentralize and expedite the process,” Asiimwe said.

By working together, the ULS is confident that united forces “can drive transformative change and realize our vision of a more equitable Uganda, as per our #RNBVision2060.”

Asiimwe urged legal professionals to view their role as central to shaping labour and justice policy in Uganda, adding that the legal profession must serve as a beacon of hope not only for the justice sector but for the wider workforce across the country.

“Let us unite in our pursuit of justice, fairness, and the rule of law, and ensure that our profession serves as a beacon of hope for the broader workforce and society at large,” he said.

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