The Uganda Law Society (ULS) is on the spot for establishing a mediation centre without the consent of its members.
ULS in conjunction with Uganda Bankers’ Association (UBA) recently established the International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation in Kampala (ICAMEK), a limited liability company that seeks to protect and assist the public in matters concerning law.
According to a section of lawyers under the society, ICAMEK was established without their authorisation because the idea had never been presented to ULS Annual General Meeting.
“The team that insists on accountability will file a suit (court case) for fraud and illegality with respect to registration and conduct of ICAMEK,” Nelson Walusimbi one of the complainants told Daily Monitor adding that a notice of intention to sue had been sent to ULS.
ULS is one of the subscribers to ICAMEK whose directors are John Fisher Kanyemibwa and former ULS president, Francis Gimara, with law firm, MMAKS Advocates as the company secretary.
On the other hand, Simon Peter Kinobe, the ULS President on Wednesday said the members’ Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) has been set for May 22 to find consensus on the issue.
“It is unfortunate that instead of seeking clarification and without citing relevant provisions of law, one of our members took to social media to smutch the good reputation of our society.”
He also said the conflict is misplaced because the issue of ICAMEK was discussed at the recent Annual General Assembly in Entebbe where all members were present and that no contention was raised.
“The ULS Executive Council under Section 10 and 11 of the ULS Act undertook its function and mandate to incorporate a company limited by guarantee that was dubbed ICAMEK with the sole purpose of arbitration. We incorporated a demand driven arbitration centre where the eventual beneficiaries are our clients and our young lawyers that would participate in the arbitral process as both arbitrators and consultants.”
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