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The Law Development Centre (LDC) will introduce a second intake for the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice on January 6, 2025, due to the rising number of law graduates seeking admission. Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka announced this change to address concerns over high failure rates and limited capacity at LDC. This year, only 1,260 out of 2,600 applicants were admitted, leaving many graduates without opportunities.

The Law Development Centre (LDC) will implement a second intake of students for the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice this academic year, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka has announced. The decision comes in response to the increasing number of law graduates seeking the mandatory diploma to practice law in Uganda.

For over five decades, LDC has admitted students through a single intake. However, the rising number of law graduates from various universities has strained the centre’s capacity, prompting calls for reforms. During a recent parliamentary session, MPs, especially from the Public Accounts Committee (Central), expressed concern over LDC’s high failure rates and its limited capacity to accommodate students.

“The government has worked with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to launch a second intake on January 6, 2025, to admit the 1,643 students who were previously left out,” Kiwanuka told Parliament.

In a statement, LDC Director Dr. Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira confirmed that all the applicants for the second intake have been admitted and will commence their studies on January 6, 2025. She added that notifications regarding admissions have been sent to the students via email, based on the contact details provided at the time of application.

This second intake will address the backlog of students unable to secure a spot in LDC’s September 2024 intake, which saw only 1,260 students admitted out of 2,600 applicants.

The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, raised concerns during the plenary on September 25, 2024, about complaints from young lawyers who failed to secure admission. “Many students are stuck after completing their studies, and they urgently need the government’s intervention to start their legal practice,” Tayebwa said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, echoed these frustrations, noting that students face challenges from enrolment through to graduation. “Even after five years of study, many are uncertain about their future due to limited opportunities at LDC,” he added.

Kiryowa Kiwanuka acknowledged that LDC’s current absorption capacity does not meet the needs of the legal sector. “Last year, around 800 students were carried over to the current academic year,” he revealed.

LDC remains the only institution offering the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, which is critical for any law graduate aiming to become an advocate in Uganda. The centre’s contemporary Bar Course is tailored to equip students with the practical skills needed for legal practice.

With the introduction of the second intake, it is hoped that more graduates will have access to the necessary training to kickstart their legal careers.