By Editorial,
Outspoken legal activist Lawyer Male Hassan Mabirizi has formally applied to the Law Council for admission and enrolment as an advocate of the High Court of Uganda, citing over a decade of self-driven litigation and constitutional activism.
In a letter dated May 30, 2025, and addressed to the Chairperson of the Law Council, Mabirizi argues that he qualifies for enrolment under Sections 13(1), 13(8), and 13(9) of the Advocates Act, having obtained his law degree from Makerere University in 2012 and actively litigated high-profile public interest cases since 2013.
Among the key cases Mabirizi cited were: The landmark Constitutional Appeal No. 02 of 2018, in which he challenged the amendment to remove the presidential age limit, a case that led to the partial nullification of the controversial constitutional amendment in which the MPs wanted to increase their term of office from five to seven years.
Mabirizi, who describes himself as a “civically active indigenous Ugandan,” has long been a household name for pursuing politically sensitive litigation without formal representation by advocates.
Counsel Mabirizi speaking….
Mabirizi has previously in 2022 been jailed over contempt of court and is known for challenging state actions, sometimes even when conventional lawyers have declined to engage. END.