ULS Unveils Second Digital TechFest to Prepare Lawyers for AI-Driven Future

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has launched the second edition of its Digital TechFest, an initiative aimed at equipping lawyers and law students with digital skills to keep pace with the fast-evolving legal profession.

 

The festival, which brings together lawyers, law students, tech innovators, and technology companies, is scheduled for 17th and 18th September at Speke Resort Munyonyo under the ULS digital transformation agenda.

 

Speaking at the launch, ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe said technology is fundamentally changing how legal services are delivered, making it essential for lawyers to become tech-savvy to stay relevant.

 

“The world is moving and technology is reshaping everything. The legal practice we used to have without technology was different,” Asiimwe said.

 

He noted that processes ranging from company registration and court proceedings to commercial transactions are increasingly being conducted on digital platforms.

 

Asiimwe observed that criminals and businesses are also leveraging technology, creating new legal challenges and opportunities that lawyers must understand.

 

He said the TechFest will help legal practitioners appreciate emerging technological developments while ensuring that digital transformation does not undermine constitutional and human rights.

 

The main festival will convene members of the Bar to explore innovations such as electronic case filing, digital legal research, and artificial intelligence-powered tools for drafting and judgment writing.

 

Asiimwe cited the Judiciary’s Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS), which is driving the shift from physical files to online court processes.

 

He added that ULS has partnered with the Law Development Centre (LDC) to engage law students through regional TechFest events, noting that students represent the future of the profession.

 

Cue..in..Asiimwe ULS eng/lug

 

The Chairperson of the second annual TechFest, Tony Kiire Galandi, said the event seeks to bring lawyers, technology innovators, and clients together to understand and respond to the disruptions technology is creating in the legal sector.

 

He said this year’s edition will place greater emphasis on practical digital tools for lawyers while promoting the development of locally relevant technologies.

 

Galandi warned that over-reliance on foreign-developed legal technology tools could pose challenges, as some artificial intelligence systems are trained on data and legal systems from other jurisdictions.

 

He cited AI tools trained on legal concepts from countries such as the United Kingdom, which may fail to account for African legal and social contexts, including polygamous marriages.

 

“Therefore, this year’s TechFest is to address some of those issues. We have invited exhibitors from all over the country, but also from abroad,” Galandi said.

 

Regional TechFest activities will be held in Mbarara, Gulu, and Mbale ahead of the main event in Kampala.

 

According to the organisers, the festival will feature technology exhibitions, training sessions, and keynote presentations from developers of digital solutions for the legal sector.