The National Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (NWSC) legal team, led by Director of Legal Services Mr. Aloysius Kaijuka and Manager of Legal Services-HQ, Craven Barigye, are participating in the 7th Annual Law Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The two-day event, organised by the Uganda Law Society, has its focus on the evolving nature of legal practice under the theme “Legal Practice in a Changing Society: Addressing Emerging Challenges and Opportunities.”
The conference opened with remarks from Uganda’s Attorney General, Mr. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who stressed the critical need for the legal profession to adapt to rapid technological advancements, increasing global integration, and evolving societal norms. He also urged the legal sector to remain dynamic and responsive to these changes, particularly in the context of technological innovations that are reshaping the landscape of legal practice.
Acknowledging that the success of the corporation is significantly driven by its skilled workforce, NWSC ensures that it nurtures a knowledgeable and adaptive workforce capable of navigating the latest developments in the water and wastewater management sector. In this case, however, it’s the legal practice realm, which is very vital to the corporation’s smooth operations, hence its involvement in this high-profile conference.
Professor Githu Muigai, Senior Partner at Mohammed Muigai LLP and former Attorney General of Kenya, delivered the keynote address, focussing on the imperative for the legal profession to evolve in response to new realities. He also discussed the significant challenges of retaining talent in the legal field and the growing prominence of international law due to global economic interdependencies. He further advocated for continuous learning and the modernisation of legal education to better prepare future legal professionals for the complexities of the modern world.
The conference addressed a range of pertinent topics, including strategies for attracting and retaining legal talent, the implications of remote work on legal practice, and the importance of maintaining a strong organisational culture while prioritising professional development. Whereas the resilience and adaptability of legal practitioners were repeatedly emphasised as vital attributes in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing professional environment.
In addition to these discussions, the conference covered emerging issues such as taxation, developments in the mining and energy sectors, and opportunities within the oil and gas industry. Legal innovations in the digital era were also a key focus, and rightfully so, with topics including AI, smart contracts, cybersecurity, and privacy laws.
For the sake of the future of humanity, intellectual property law’s role in addressing climate change and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals was also examined.
To ensure discussions on emerging trends, regulatory changes, and the increasing significance of compliance and corporate governance, while also creating networking opportunities that could lead to cross-sector collaborations and professional growth, the conference had a panel discussion featuring industry leaders, such as Mariam Nampeera, Deputy General Manager at Total Energies EP Uganda, and Julius Kakeeto, Managing Director of Post Bank, who provided further insights into the future trajectory of legal practice in Uganda.
