A group of legal dons and practitioners have taken to social media to blast the Law Development Center (LDC) management for summoning a group of eight female students for engaging in a dance at High Court-Commercial Division, saying there is no law the students violated to warrant summons.
The rebuke followed a video uploaded on social media sites showing the girls dancing the popular song ‘Tumbiza Sound’ by Kyambogo University student, Eric Opoka whose lyrics takes a swipe at Government for closing places of entertainment following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Uganda.
As soon as LDC Administration got wind of the video, they moved swiftly to issue summons to the girls who were undertaking their clerkship at Commercial court.
In the summons, the team is supposed to appear before LDC Administration today at 2Pm without fail and that matters to be discussed were of urgent importance.
The summoned students are; Kakidi Ann, Nambafu Annet, Kalungi Kellen, Nabirye Zeridah, Nyinamastiko Gloria, Kyomuhendo Justine, Kamaliza Immaculate and Basemera Edith.
However, the summons angered some members within the legal fraternity and leading the criticism over the summons was renown Makerere University Law Don, Busingye Kabumba, who wrote on twitter, “So some young (female) lawyers danced at the commercial court. Perhaps not the best use of their time, but who hasn’t needed to let off steam once in a while? Sometimes, we should let kids (even those who happen to be lawyers) be kids.”
His argument was backed by Diana Angwech, Vice President Uganda Law Society noting, “Everyone in their youth should be allowed a lapse of judgment.”
However, one of the students, Ann Kakidi wrote a letter to the Justices of the Commercial Courts as well as the Registrar, expressing remorse over her conduct and promised never to partake in such a move again.
Kakidi wrote, “My behavior was not appropriate and did not reflect the respect that was expected in court. There however, no excuse for such kind of bahaviour. I am deeply sorry for the misconduct and I pray for your pardon. This will never happen again. And this is a big lesson to always think twice before making certain decisions as an aspiring advocate.”
It should be recalled that last year, Ministry of Health wrote to Uganda Communications Commission to ban the playing of the Tumbiza Sound song by Eric Opoka over its lyrics that health experts argued undermined efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. However, after fierce public rebuke, Government rescinded on its decision and agreed to do a remix of the song with the artist.
