Outspoken legal activist and lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi Kassim Kiwanuka has formally applied to the Law Council for admission and enrolment as an advocate of the High Court of Uganda, citing over a decade of self-driven litigation and constitutional activism.
In a letter dated May 30, 2025, and addressed to the Chairperson of the Law Council, Mabirizi argues that he qualifies for enrolment under Sections 13(1), 13(8), and 13(9) of the Advocates Act.
He notes that he obtained his law degree from Makerere University in 2012 and has actively litigated high-profile public interest cases since 2013.
“I have been in active litigation since 2013 in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and the East African Court of Justice, mostly in public interest matters. I have hence practiced for over a decade, far above the required minimum of one year,” Mabirizi stated in his application.
Among the key cases he cited is the landmark Constitutional Appeal No. 02 of 2018, in which he challenged the amendment to remove the presidential age limit.
The case led to the partial nullification of a controversial constitutional amendment that sought to extend Members of Parliament’s terms from five to seven years.
He also referenced two cases before the East African Court of Justice. The first, in 2019, challenged the same constitutional amendments, and the second, in 2020, contested the legality of Uganda’s Covid-19 lockdown measures.
Describing himself as a “civically active indigenous Ugandan,” Mabirizi has long been known for pursuing politically sensitive litigation without formal legal representation.
In 2022, he was jailed for contempt of court and has frequently taken on cases that many conventional lawyers have avoided.
Now aged 36 and recently released after serving an 18-month prison term, Mabirizi has reemerged with renewed zeal. He considers himself “fit and proper” not only to join the legal profession but also to one day lead the country.
The Law Council has not yet publicly responded to his application, although records confirm that it was received on June 2, 2025.
If approved, Mabirizi will be officially admitted to the Roll of Advocates, granting him the right to represent clients in court, not just as a litigant in person, but as a full-fledged officer of the court.
Traditionally, admission to the Roll of Advocates in Kampala requires a Bachelor of Laws degree from a recognized university and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, or equivalent qualifications obtained from common law countries.
Degrees from jurisdictions based on the Franconian legal system are not recognized for this purpose.
Earlier this year, the Uganda Law Society, the umbrella body of advocates, recognized Mabirizi as a “Rule of Law Champion” for his dedication to promoting constitutionalism and the rule of law.
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