The Greater Masaka Court Reporters Guild (GMCRG) has unveiled the Second Edition of the Greater Masaka Annual Legal Awards.
The initiative seeks to recognise outstanding lawyers and law firms for their exceptional contribution to the legal profession in the Greater Masaka region.
This time, two new categories, including the Female Lawyer of the Year and the Longest Serving (Senior) Lawyer of the Year, have been introduced, bringing the total to four.
Initially, the awards featured only two categories – the Outstanding Lawyer of the Year and the Best Law Firm of the Year.
According to Esther Namugwe, the Head of Research at GMCRG, the 2025 program is the culmination of months of research into the legal landscape of the region and is designed to highlight lawyers and law firms that have demonstrated outstanding impact over the past year.
“The awards strive to reveal those law firms and individual lawyers that set new market precedents, define new legal frameworks, and introduce innovative tools and instruments of the trade,” Namugwe said.
The award ceremony is scheduled for December 15, 2025, according to Namugwe, with the venue to be announced after the submission deadline on November 28. She further added that the questionnaires will be sent to law firms and advocates in the region as part of the selection process.
Malik Fahad Jjingo, the team leader of GMCRG, expressed optimism that this year’s edition will attract more participants due to the expanded award categories. He emphasised the importance of appreciating legal practitioners and journalists who play a key role in promoting justice.
“When people feel valued, they become motivated. Lawyers and law firms are essential in fighting unfairness and injustice in our communities. This awards program is our small way of recognising their vital contribution,” Jjingo remarked.
He explained that Lawyers and law firms are essential in fighting unfairness and injustice in our communities, and giving them excellence awards through the introduced awards program is their small way of recognising advocates’ vital contribution to nation building.
The region comprises Masaka City, Masaka District, Kalangala, Lyantonde, Kalungu, Rakai, Ssembabule, Lwengo, Bukomansimbi, and Kyotera and is currently home to more than 20 law firms and over 50 advocates.
Despite the progress, the region continues to face a case backlog, which legal practitioners attribute to the shortage of High Court judges.
Earlier this year, advocates staged a sit-down strike demanding more judicial officers. In response, the Judiciary pledged to increase criminal court sessions and deploy visiting judges to help reduce the backlog.
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