Last updated on July 23rd, 2023 at 08:07 pm
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) is seeking to establish a fund ostensibly aimed at helping advocates pay their medical bills.
This development has been revealed in a notice on Friday, 21st July by the Law Society’s Honorary Secretary Mr. Isaac Atukunda to members calling for an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for 18th August, 2023 to vote on the subject.
The move is a direct response to the persistent challenge among sick lawyers to settle huge hospital bills for the treatment of debilitating illnesses.
According to ULS, an estimated 16 advocates lose their lives per year to illness due to a lack of money to help them cater for treatment hence the need for a “comprehensive and principled policy that addresses their health needs and ensures their well-being.”
The fund dubbed the “ ULS Health Care and Benevolent Fund” will be headed by Ms. Lydia Ochieng Obbo and comes at a time when the existing mode of help for struggling advocates is through crowd-sourcing the money needed for treatment usually by organizing car wash events.
One prime death of an advocate who struggled with treatment costs is that of Mr. Anthony Wameli, chief lawyer of the National Unity Platform political party, whose cash-strapped family struggled with repatriating his body after dying in a U.S hospital ending up in crowdsourcing.
Under the health scheme, the ULS is also seeking to set up a mental health wellness programme to address the growing concern for advocates’ mental well-being.
The scheme will also include education assistance for a deceased lawyer’s children.
The “ULS Health Care and Benevolent Fund” is one of several initiatives being pursued by ULS President Bernard Oundo and his leadership team to improve the welfare of advocates and thus boost the relevance (to members) of the Law Society which is the umbrella grouping of advocates in Uganda.
