ULS Hosts 2nd Annual Tech Fest With A Call To Decentralise Legal Tech & Safeguard Human Rights

 SPEKE RESORT MUNYONYO, KAMPALA — September 17, 2026 — The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has officially opened its second annual Digital Transformation Festival (TechFest 2026). The gathering is operateing under the theme: “Digital Democracy: Advancing Access to Justice, Innovation and Ethical Governance through Technology.” The event brings together judicial officers, legal practitioners, tech innovators, and government officials to align legal practice with emerging technologies while preserving public trust.

The Attorney General, Hon. Sam Mayanja, SC, delivered a directive for the legal profession to embrace technological changes productively. "We must ensure the technology is used productively, not for personal gain," Mayanja stated. He also addressed structural challenges within the justice system, urging the bar and the bench to close the rift dividing them.

AG Sam Mayanja.

The Attorney General outlined three urgent priority areas for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs including Responsible AI Frameworks, where he said that there is a need for clear operational guidelines covering verification, confidentiality, and institutional accountability.

He also underscored the importance of Cybersecurity Standards saying that enforceable protocols and continuous technical training need to cut across law firms and justice departments.

Decentralising Legal Tech Across Uganda:

To bridge the urban-rural digital divide, the festival took a regional approach this year, with preliminary practical workshops being conducted earlier in the week across Mbarara, Mbale, and Gulu.

 Tonny Kiire Galandi, Managing Partner of Diamond Advocates and Chairperson of TechFest 2026, emphasized that these regional hubs allowed up-country advocates to test artificial intelligence tools firsthand. Galandi noted that while systems like the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) are operational, deeper integration is required with agencies like the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the Uganda Prisons Service.

Showcasing Ugandan Innovation and Public Sector Reforms:

The festival highlighted practical legal-tech solutions built for the local context:

One ofthe he tech innovators -JuriAssist developed by Austin Ekesa of LexTech Uganda, is an AI assistant that integrates Ugandan case law to reduce legal drafting times—such as affidavits—from days to seconds, assisting magistrates and advocates alike.

Baker Mugaino, Commissioner for Land Registration, with an E-Title System demonstrated how digitizing titles and linking them to individual biometric identities has streamlined land transactions and minimized fraud.

A Keynote on Technology as a Shield for Human Rights was delivered by the retired Justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende who reminded delegates that technological transformation must safeguard human dignity.

 VP ULS Anthony Asiimwe 

He called upon the ULS to fulfill its statutory duty by using modern investigative, record-searching, and communication tools to pursue accountability for historical human rights violations. Justice Egonda-Ntende then formally declared the festival open.

The Uganda Law Society is the professional body for lawyers in Uganda, established by statute to maintain professional standards, facilitate access to justice, and advise the public and government on matters of law and governance.