The Law Development Centre (LDC) top management has come out strongly against calls to scrap the institution’s pre-entry exams, warning that running the bar course on the basis of populism would compromise the quality of lawyers Uganda produces.Speaking during the institution’s 53rd graduation ceremony last Friday, Justice Christopher Madrama — the outgoing chairperson of the LDC management committee — insisted that the Centre must remain a “citadel of excellence.”“LDC must never succumb to populism. Lowering the bar course examination standards to appease external pressure will be a historical disservice to the administration of justice and the legal profession,” Madrama said.Why the Pre-Entry Exams MatterMadrama defended the contested pre-entry exams as a quality safeguard, arguing that they ensure only well-grounded candidates are admitted to the bar course.Congratulating the graduates, he urged them to take pride in completing the demanding programme.“You have earned your place through hard work, late nights and intellectual resilience under a system that refused to lower its standards. Let not anyone diminish your accomplishment. Champion the law with integrity and let your professional conduct be beyond reproach, guard your reputation, embrace technology,” he said.He added that the legal practice of the 21st century belongs to those who use technology well.Be Agents of ChangePresiding over the ceremony, retired Court of Appeal Justice Frederick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende congratulated the graduands and challenged them to become agents of change in their communities.“Using your head, heart and hands, go out and work, create a justice-centred country, where the rights of all of us, ordinary Ugandans, women and children are not simply a mirage. Be that change that is needed in the society not only for the privileged few but also for all in the society,” Egonda-Ntende said.The Numbers: 3,000 Enrolled, 1,563 GraduateLDC Director Dr Pamela Tibihikirra Kalyegira revealed the scale of the challenge candidates face. More than 3,000 students enrolled for the course across both the January and September intakes in the previous academic year, yet only 1,563 eventually graduated — underscoring just how rigorous the programme remains.The graduation was held under the theme “Empowered to build a justice-centered Uganda through law, technology, alternative dispute resolution and alternative justice system.”Kalyegira appealed to the graduands to uphold ethics throughout their careers.“Stand prepared to contribute meaningfully to the country’s justice system with integrity, professionalism and a deep commitment to fairness. We trust that you will remain guided by honesty, respect and the ethical values that define the legal profession,” she said.A Journalist’s TestimonyAmong the graduates was New Vision’s court reporter, Farooq Kasule, who has covered court proceedings since July 2014. He credited the beat with inspiring him to enrol for a Bachelor of Laws degree at the Islamic University in Uganda in 2019, before progressing to LDC.Kasule did not shy away from the difficulty of the journey.“I thank God for enabling me go through the LDC. It has not been an easy journey because I had to forego so many things to achieve it. In our year, over 4,000 students were admitted by LDC, but who am I to be among the 600 that were found fit and proper for the award?” Kasule said.Asked whether he was leaving the newsroom to fully transition into legal practice, he made his loyalty clear.“I want to give New Vision another year because it deserves it,” he said.The Bigger DebateThe defence of the pre-entry exams lands squarely in the middle of an ongoing national conversation about access to the legal profession. Critics have long argued that the pre-entry system locks out qualified law graduates, while LDC’s leadership maintains it is the last line of defence for professional standards.For now, the message from the Centre’s top brass is unambiguous: the standards stay. As thousands continue to compete for a limited number of slots, the question of how to balance access with quality remains very much alive — but LDC has made clear which side of that line it intends to stand on.The post “LDC Must Never Succumb to Populism”: Top Judge Defends Pre-Entry Exams was written by the awesome team at Campus Bee.