Nagadya Hamidah Advocates for the Harmonization of Legal Education Regulatory Frameworks and the Adoption of Competency-Based Legal Education Across the Region at the Inaugural Council of Legal Education Conference 2025
- 05th December, 2025 1:04pm
The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) is proud to highlight that Ms. Nagadya Hamidah, a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, presented a scholarly paper at the Inaugural Council of Legal Education Conference 2025, held at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The conference brought together leading legal scholars, regulators, practitioners, policymakers, and international partners to deliberate on reforms and innovations shaping the future of legal education and professional training across East Africa.
The conference was officially addressed by the Chief Justice of Kenya, Hon. Lady Justice Martha Koome, who emphasized that legal education is foundational to effective justice systems. She called for strengthened collaboration among law schools, legal education regulators, the Judiciary, and the Bar to enhance quality assurance and relevance in legal education.
The conference featured different high-level panels comprising distinguished speakers. Notable panelists included the Chairperson of the Law Reform Commission, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission for University Education, Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote (UNEP), Prof. PLO Lumumba, Prof. Kulundu, Senior Counsel Nelson Havi, former President of the Law Society of Kenya, Dr. Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira from the Law Development Centre, Prof. Ben Sihanya, and Dr. Julius Mashamba. The panels provided critical insights into the achievements, existing gaps, and future directions of legal education and regulatory frameworks in the region.
The conference also featured regional leadership, including the President of the East Africa Law Society, Mr. Ramadhan, the organization’s Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Nairobi, and the Team Lead of the UNODC Anti-Corruption Hub Africa, who reaffirmed East Africa’s commitment to strengthening legal education, harmonizing professional standards, and promoting cross-border cooperation in justice sector reforms.
During her presentation on 2 December 2025, Ms. Nagadya Hamidah emphasized the pivotal role of legal education in enhancing national capacity through the training of competent, ethical, and practice-ready graduates. She advocated for the harmonization of legal education regulatory frameworks across the region to ensure consistency, quality, and mutual recognition of legal qualifications. She further called for the adoption of competency-based legal education, highlighting the need for curricula that prioritize practical skills, critical thinking, and professional ethics.
Ms. Nagadya also underscored the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to support effective teaching, research, and continuous professional development. She highlighted the integration of modern legal technologies as essential in preparing graduates to address contemporary legal challenges. Additionally, she called for the continuous review of legal education standards to ensure sustainability, relevance, and alignment with national development priorities. According to her, these reforms are crucial for building a legal profession capable of supporting effective governance, justice delivery, and civic leadership in East Africa.
Beyond her paper presentation, Ms. Nagadya participated as a high-level panelist in one of the breakout sessions, titled Lawyers as Gatekeepers, moderated by Ms. Florence Shako, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. This session examined the critical role of lawyers in combating illicit financial flows and promoting ethical and accountable legal practice. Ms. Nagadya emphasized the need for enhanced stakeholder collaboration among regulators, law firms, financial institutions, and professional associations to develop coordinated responses to financial crimes. She further advocated for strengthened accountability mechanisms, regulatory reforms, continuous professional training on compliance, and the adoption of modern monitoring and reporting technologies. She also highlighted the importance of fostering a strong culture of ethics and financial integrity within the legal profession to ensure lawyers effectively serve as gatekeepers against illicit financial activities.
The Islamic University in Uganda congratulates Ms. Nagadya Hamidah on her outstanding scholarly contribution and exemplary representation at this prestigious regional forum. Her participation reflects IUIU’s strong commitment to academic excellence, research leadership, and active engagement in shaping the future of legal education and professional training in East Africa.
