In a significant development, Rwanda's Frederic Kwihangana was appointed as the speaker of the association. Kwihangana is a student at the University of Rwanda and serves as the president of the University of Rwanda Law Students Association (UR-LSA).
Gideon Mwanje, a 24-year-old law student from Nkumba University in Uganda, was sworn in as the first president of LSAEA. Mwanje's election is a notable achievement, given his dual role as the attorney general of the Nkumba University guild government. The LSAEA, which unites law students' associations from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, aims to promote collaboration and dialogue on legal issues across these nations.
Tanzania's Samwel Ngelela, who was named general secretary, highlights the diverse representation within the new executive team. Esther Odipo Ayoo, president of the Kenya Law Students Association (KLSA), was also appointed as vice president of LSAEA.
The ceremonial swearing-in was conducted by Bernard Oundo, president of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and former president of the East Africa Law Society (EALS). Oundo's presence underscored the importance of the event, as he administered the oath to the new executive members, fulfilling the requirements of LSAEA's constitution.
Oundo urged law students to embrace opportunities for cross-border legal practice, emphasizing the benefits of collaboration among emerging legal professionals in the region. He stressed the need for unity and joint efforts to build a strong regional legal community.
In his acceptance speech, President Mwanje expressed his commitment to fostering unity among law students across East Africa. He outlined plans to extend the association's reach to include students from South Sudan, Burundi, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mwanje and his team are actively working to help these countries establish their own national law students' associations, paving the way for their integration into LSAEA.
With Frederic Kwihangana's appointment as speaker, Rwanda will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of this newly established association, marking a promising beginning for regional legal collaboration and development.
Sam K Nkurunziza
