The Huddersfield Law Society Uganda Twinning Project has been running for 16 years.  Each year a delegation visit Uganda to deliver a 2 day conference on topics relevant to them, set by the Ugandan Law Society.

The actual conference itself is the tip of the iceberg, as there is so much more than lawyers delivering the content to the delegates.

The first day in Uganda we were invited to the President of the Ugandan Law Society’s (ULS) home and enjoyed a home-cooked meal with his family.  We also attended the offices of James Mucassa and met with Mr Justice Remy in the High Court.

ULS clearly plays a crucial role in placing pressure upon the Government.  When individuals are detained for long periods, when lawyers are targeted and when clear breaches of Human Rights take place, those at ULS, in very difficult circumstances, take the Authorities to task.

When meeting with the CEO of ULS, Joyce Nalunga, she requested an addition to the modules planned for the conference.  Many lawyers in Uganda (as is the case in the UK) are suffering from “burn-out”, do not always take holidays, become stressed or disillusioned with their job and this is the hot topic at the conference this year.

I was asked to deliver a module in relation to wellbeing.  This included tips as to how to avoid “burn-out”, the very thin line between peak performance and burn-out and the benefits of exercise and taking time out and having interests outside of work.

The key message was that this would actually increase productivity, and a required sea-change from senior members of the profession, to instil this ethos in the junior members.

An additional reason we visit Uganda is because the Meltham Church help set up the Mustard Seed Project, which is a school and nursery for children in Kyema.  We visited the children, played some games and heard some poems and songs the children made up.

We were all treated with such kindness and respect, the feedback being that they learn a lot from our visit each year.

To be frank, it’s entirely the other way round. We have learned lessons from the Ugandan lawyers, teachers and ULS.  Feeding a school of 150 children from a small fire, teaching children without chairs or desks, is hard to imagine.  Lawyers in Uganda are putting themselves in danger, as a result of campaigning for the Government to be held accountable and for Human Rights abuses.  Until you have actually met these people it is difficult to understand the challenges they face. I have so much respect for these individuals.

Although technically we went to Uganda to teach the lawyers there about various matters, including advocacy, business development and wellbeing, it is we who are enriched by this opportunity. Uganda is a truly beautiful country; I can’t wait to go again.