Professional registration · 4 min read
How to become an advocate in Uganda: LLB, the Bar Course entry exam and enrolment
Who can apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Centre, what the pre-entry exam covers, the 2027 fees and how new advocates are enrolled.
An LLB lets you call yourself a law graduate, not an advocate. To practise in Uganda's courts you go through the Bar Course, the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Centre (LDC), and are then enrolled as an advocate of the High Court. Entry to the Bar Course is controlled by the Law Council and starts with an exam. This guide uses the Law Council's call for the 2027 academic year.
Who can apply for the Bar Course
- Holders of an LLB from a Ugandan university whose LLB is accredited by the National Council for Higher Education in consultation with the Law Council. The accreditation must have existed before you enrolled on the LLB.
- Holders of an LLB from a university outside Uganda that operates the common law system, with prior written clearance from the Law Council. Online applications with a foreign degree and no clearance are not considered.
- Every applicant must also meet the NCHE minimum for a bachelor's degree: two principal passes at A level and five passes at O level, each obtained at one sitting, or the equivalent.
The pre-entry examination
Shortlisted applicants sit a closed book pre-entry exam, and only those who pass get admission letters. It covers the core university law courses: Legal Methods, Constitutional Law, Law of Contract, Criminal Law, Law of Torts, Law of Evidence, Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure, and it also tests your aptitude and the values you attach to the profession.
For the 2027 Bar Course the exam was held at LDC in Kampala on Saturday 17 October 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm, with candidates in the room by 7:30 am. The 2027 course has one intake, from January to December 2027.
How to apply and what it costs
Applications are strictly online, on admissions.ldc.ac.ug: fill the form, upload your academic documents and a valid national ID, passport or driving licence. For 2027 the fee was UGX 250,000, made up of UGX 200,000 for application processing and UGX 50,000 for the pre-entry exam, paid to the Uganda Revenue Authority account. The 2027 call was posted at the end of August 2026; watch the LDC website for the next one.
After the Bar Course: enrolment as an advocate
Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice are enrolled as advocates of the High Court by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, in ceremonies witnessed by representatives of the Law Council and the Uganda Law Society; one such round enrolled more than 200 advocates over two days. Check with the Law Council for the current documents and steps before you apply for enrolment.
Work while you prepare
Before or after the Bar Course, legal assistant, compliance and research roles are worth a look. Read each advert for the qualification it asks for: some posts require the Bar Course and enrolment as an advocate, and some a number of years at the bar.
Sources and further reading
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Frequently asked questions
Can I join the Bar Course with a foreign law degree?
Yes, if the degree is from a common law system and you have prior written clearance from the Law Council. Applications with a foreign degree and no clearance are not considered.
What does the LDC pre-entry exam cover?
Legal Methods, Constitutional Law, Contract, Criminal Law, Torts, Evidence, Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure, plus aptitude and professional values. It is closed book.
How much does it cost to apply for the Bar Course?
For the 2027 academic year, UGX 250,000: UGX 200,000 for processing and UGX 50,000 for the pre-entry exam, paid to the URA account.
Who enrols new advocates?
The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, with the Law Council and the Uganda Law Society represented at the enrolment ceremonies.