A law firm in Jinja has declined to continue with the clerkship training of a bar course student, citing what it described as unexpected and unbudgeted demands for daily transport, breakfast and lunch allowances.
In a letter dated August 10, 2026, Okalang Law Chambers informed the Department of Postgraduate Legal Studies and Legal Aid at the Law Development Centre (LDC) that it could no longer accommodate the student, identified as Nabwire Judith, who had been referred to the firm for bar course clerkship.
According to the letter, Nabwire reported to the firm’s Jinja office on Tuesday, August 4, but immediately requested a one-week leave of absence, saying she had travelled from Mbarara by bus the previous day and needed a full week to rest.
The firm said that although the request appeared unusual, it granted her the leave.
However, upon returning to the firm on August 10, the student reportedly demanded that the law firm provide her with daily transport, breakfast and lunch allowances.
The firm said the demands were “highly unfavourable” and would result in expenses that had not been budgeted for.
“For the reasons above, we are unable to have her in our law firm for Clerkship training, and we therefore refer her back to your office,” the firm stated in the letter addressed to the Acting Head of the Department of Postgraduate Legal Studies and Legal Aid at LDC.
The firm copied the student on the communication.
The letter, referenced OLC/J/GEN/2026, does not indicate whether the student had previously been informed of the firm’s policies regarding transport, meals or other allowances during the clerkship.
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