Page 86 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Legal Lessons

in Uganda

By Captain Laura Fearnfield

Laura Fearnfield, Will Thackery and Suzanne Appleman
Brigade Legal Officers Course 2016 group photo
(Dutch Army) at Sipi Falls
In May 2016 Captain Will Humanitarian Law and the role of a Legal The dated infrastructure added its own

Thackery and I packed our Aid Officer. Soon the team hope to take challenges but plans are underway for
a more supervisory role before, in time,
some renovations. Further, the recent
bags and headed off to completely handing over to the Legal introduction of wifi and a back-up
Uganda. As members of the Training Centre staff. generator made the frequent power cuts
much more manageable.
Having already delivered courses earlier
Operational Law Branch in the year I was keen to return and assist
we are an integral part of with the Brigade Legal Officers Course, in Understanding Your
a project, led by the Royal order to see how the Legal Training Centre Audience
was progressing.
Netherlands Army, which
teaches military law to the Working Overseas The students on the Brigade Legal Officers
Course were all incredibly welcoming,
Uganda People’s Defence Work aside, delivering a course overseas engaged and eager to learn. Despite the
Force. comes with some interesting quirks. huge rank range (from Private to Major)

Although there are often dogs in the they were all qualified lawyers and treated
each other as such. Many had years of
The Project Operational Law office, we are less used
to marabou storks, chickens and goats
frequenting the classroom. Much mirth Will Thackery delivering a lesson in the Law Training Centre
Running since January 2015, the project was caused when we tried to take photos
has seen the Legal Training Centre, of animals which, to the students, were
situated on a historic King’s African Rifles as common as pigeons in London. The
Barracks in Jinja, go from strength to intense heat also made for an interesting
strength. At present the United Kingdom trip, especially on the last day when
and Netherlands team of legal officers barrack dress was required for the closing
deliver a variety of courses designed for ceremony and, again, our constant
different audiences, all focused on the sweating was a source of amusement to
Law of Armed Conflict, International the locals who were wearing winter coats.

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