Dear Reader,

Welcome to this premier issue of the M-K In-House Newsletter (M-K Stream) which is also being published on the 10^th Anniversary of the Law Firm’s inception. Muhumuza-Kiiza Advocates and Legal Consultants came into existence on the 3^rd day of September 2010 and 10 years on, we have been recognized and accredited as among the best 70 law firms by Public Opinions and Asia Africa Development Council.

We look forward to sharing with you our valued clients and well-wishers this newsletter on a monthly basis. Why this newsletter now? Our team had the following reasons when coming up with this idea:

1. To be able to share new developments in the legal field that might be of help to you.
2. To keep you updated regularly on all developments at the law firm.
3. To also use this forum as a means to get feedback from you about the law firm and its work.

Every new development is always fraught with challenges but with this new step taken by us, we believe we shall live up to your expectations as we develop the content of this newsletter.

As already stated this comes at an important milestone of the law firm for which am extremely humbled sitting down and penning these thoughts. Ten years seems a life time but on the other hand it also seems like simply yesterday. From our humble beginnings at Raja Chambers located at Parliament Avenue it has indeed been a journey for which I can’t stop expressing my gratitude to those who have been and continue to be part of us. We shall always be indebted to all those that walked into our offices to seek our services, for it’s you who have made us what we are today.

I can’t put everything down in these few paragraphs but on the other hand it would be an injustice not to mention a few exceptional individuals/Organizations that have been part of this great entrepreneurial story.

When I left the partnership I had been part of to start this law firm, I walked away from it with nothing materially, in every literal sense. . I had to start all over but with a peace of mind. One of those people who stood with me throughout that time of trial was my dear wife Catherine T. Muhumuza. The rent, the few firm assets like the 2 Desktop Computers and furniture we started with in the one room office we had then, were sourced by a salary loan that Cathy took out from her work place to enable me start this great project. Thanks for believing in this project Cathy.

I would also like to appreciate our very first client Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu who made that important phone call asking us to pick instructions from him. You will never know how much those instructions meant to us. Also to you, Mr. Kartick Halai, the Managing Director at Cementers (U) Ltd;  though you never initially gave us any instructions for a while because you didn’t have any, you allow ed us to tap into your great network of colleagues and friends, many of whom went on to become our invaluable clients and friends. Mr. Stephen Katanywa of Ishanyu Investments Ltd, you have been a bedrock from the beginning and we are eternally grateful. Not to forget Mr. Brian Iredale of Nurture Africa and A-Z Children’s Foundation for your early and continuous support, we remain indebted.

Also, not to forget my early mentors at Sebalu & Lule Advocates where my career began under the great stewardship of the Late Paulo Sebalu (RIP), Mr. Godfrey S. Lule, Mr. Barnabas R. Tumusingize and James S. Mukasa. Most of what I know and practice today in my work I learnt from these great gentlemen. But of special mention, Barnabas, to whom I was largely under his supervision for the 7 years I spent at that great firm, am forever grateful for the invaluable training that you gave me. God Bless You Always!

So, after 10 years, what next? Is this all? Not at all! A new journey begins from here as well! We are certainly cognizant of the changing world around us and we are certainly going to be as adaptable as possible. How shall we do it?

1. We certainly intend to be a 21^st Century Law Firm in every sense and the baby steps have been taken with this newsletter and revamping of the firm website which will be our key interface point with our clients. Please visit it and give us feedback at our social media handles.
2. We shall continually improve our service delivery to not only tailoring our services to the client needs out there but also reach you in your diverse locations through setting up more offices besides the presence in Kampala City, Mbarara City, Fort Portal City and Masindi Town.
3. We are also in the coming years looking forward to grow our network of law partners outside Uganda to enable us tap into those networks to better serve our diverse clientele.
4. We also look forward to further investing more in our team to gain more specialized experience through training in their practice areas to compete at the highest level in the legal field.

These above will be our core areas of focus in the years ahead.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you once again for all the enduring support given to us and request you to keep on the journey with us. The joyful journey continues……….

Charles K. Muhumuza