UNILAK Law Students Emerge Winners in National Moot Court Competition
Students from University of Lay Adventist of Kigali (UNILAK) have outperformed their peers in a national law competition, excelling in their ability to argue cases in a simulated courtroom setting.
The contest, known as the “Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law,” brought together law students from five universities across Rwanda the University of Rwanda (UR), Kigali Independent University (ULK), University of Kigali (UoK), UNILAK, and INES–Ruhengeri.
Organized annually by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with participating universities, the competition is designed to prepare aspiring lawyers for real-life legal practice. UNILAK students, who represented the prosecution, were declared winners over their counterparts from ULK, who took the defense side.
The competition simulates a trial process: participants are assigned roles of prosecutors and defense lawyers to argue a fictitious case based on both national and international law. The panel of judges is composed of experienced legal practitioners, who evaluate students’ performance based on argumentation, legal reasoning, and courtroom demeanor.
Faustin Ntwali, a member of the winning team from UNILAK, described the experience as a rare and invaluable learning opportunity.
“This competition gives us a chance to put theory into practice,” he said. “It teaches us how to draft and present submissions, how to conduct ourselves in court, and how to think like real lawyers skills we would otherwise not acquire while still in school.”
Diane D. Pleaseh Demey, a Liberian student at ULK who represented the defense, said the event helped participants understand how legal principles operate beyond textbooks.
“It enables us to apply human rights law in practical cases, whether we are defending or prosecuting,” she explained.
Jean Damascene Kalinda, a legal expert who chaired the panel of judges, emphasized the long-term value of such competitions for students aspiring to work on the international stage.
“As a former participant myself, I know how impactful these competitions can be. I once represented Rwanda in Germany in 2016 at the court that tried Adolf Hitler’s associates after World War II. Experiences like these help young lawyers understand how their peers abroad think and perform, which broadens their professional horizons,” he said.
Julien Namahoro, the ICRC’s Legal Dissemination Officer in Rwanda, explained that the organization’s role is to complement academic instruction by promoting the practical application of humanitarian law.
“We are not here to teach in universities but to help students practice what they learn. Over the years, many former participants have gone on to establish successful law firms or work in key legal institutions. This shows the tangible impact of the program,” he said.
This year marks the ninth edition of the Moot Court Competition in Rwanda. The winning students will represent the country at the upcoming African Regional Rounds in Kenya.
The ICRC has been operational in Rwanda since 1963 and established a permanent office in 1990. Following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the organization has continued to work closely with Rwandan institutions particularly the military, law enforcement, and academic sectors to promote respect for international humanitarian law and nurture the next generation of legal professionals.
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