MUK students debate assisted reproductive technology law
The heated intellectual debate saw over 30 students take part in the legal contest over a matter that has stirred debate in the country, with some people opposing it.
Makerere University law students taking part in the moot competition on assisted reproductive technology law on Wednesday April 16, 2025. (Photos by Farooq Kasule)
Farooq Kasule
Journalist @New Vision
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Makerere University law students have backed the enactment of the assisted reproductive technology law in the heated hypothetical moot competitions held on Wednesday (April 16).
The moot competition was presided over by Judges Jane Okuo Kajuga, Andrew Khauka and Bernard Namanya of the High Court.
The heated intellectual debate saw over 30 students take part in the legal contest over a matter that has stirred debate in the country, with some people opposing it.
Drawing from several jurisdictions, the students in support of the moot case underscored the need for the Human Assisted Reproductive Law to minimize the loss of lives in light of the existence of HIV and AIDS.
They argued that young people aged between 10 and 24 face significant sexual and reproductive challenges stemming from early sexual activity.
Prof. Christopher Mbazira, the coordinator of the Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC) at Makerere University School of Law, said the moot topic was drawn from the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2023 that is before Parliament to expose the students with the law in this area.
Spearheaded by Tororo Municipality legislator Sarah Opendi, the Bill if passed into law, is among others intended to regulate the use of human assisted reproductive technology and to provide for the rights and duties of persons involved in human assisted reproductive technology and rights of children born through human assisted reproductive technology.
Moots are mock trials used in law schools to train students and equip them with practical skills.
High Court Judges Jane Okuo Kajuga, Andrew Khauka and Bernard Namanya presiding over the Makerere University law students' moot competition on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
“We hold this moot competition to impart our students with practical skills by giving them the opportunity to submit before actual judges so that they are able to learn the etiquette and decorum of court and how to address judges,” said Mbazira.
He also disclosed that they have since adopted a new methodology of teaching that is similar to the clinical methodology and thus also built an actual courtroom at the university to that effect.
“We have borrowed this methodology from the medical school which trains the students in the hospital environment and we have since adapted it and made it applicable to legal training.
"We have already embarked on the process of mainstreaming this methodology to all courses we teach at the law school because we want them to be able to make an impact in society upon graduating,” said Mbazira.
He added that moots are intended to help students apply comparative law.
“We are revamping the way we teach at the law school as the premier law school because we are supposed to determine the benchmark for other law schools. We have adopted a clinical methodology of teaching and we are going to up it."
Dr Ronald Naluwayiro, the Principal of the School of Law at Makerere University, said the school being the first law school to be established in Uganda in 1968 remains the best law school in the country with 34 academic staff who are experts in the different legal fields.
In regard to the moot competitions, Naluwayiro said it is important to give students experimental learning because it takes them away beyond theory thus helping them to understand better.
He thanked the judges for embracing the programme, saying that this way, the judges or the Judiciary becomes their partner in the training of future lawyers and judges.
Law student Japheth Kakaire, who took part in the moot competitions, commended the law school administrators for affording them the opportunity to appear before real judges.
He said taking part has emboldened his confidence.