Kampala to Vienna: Help Our Team make history!

Hello Well Wishers,

When we started our GoFundMe journey, our initial goal was EUR 10,000. Thanks to your generous donations and that of external supporters, we are pleased that our fundraising goal has decreased to EUR 5,500. To learn more about our team, our pending fundraising items and how you can help us, please continue reading our story below.

Call for Support

We are a team of diligent young students from Kampala, Uganda, who share a dream of representing our country at the 31st Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition (“Vis Moot”). With your help, we wish to raise five thousand, five hundred Euros (EUR 5,500) to send our team of four students and one coach to Vienna, Austria, to participate in the 31st Vis Moot.

Although this is the 31st iteration of the competition, we first participated in the Vis in 2022 (29th Vis Moot, Vienna), when the competition was online due to COVID-19 restrictions. In 2023, our participation was limited to the memo writing phase as we were unable to attend the in-person oral pleadings of the 30th Vis Vienna owing to financial constraints. This year, we are actively working to ensure that our team makes it from Kampala to Vienna for the 31st Vis Moot, which will happen from 22nd to 29th March 2024. By supporting us, you are promoting diversity in the field of international commercial law and arbitration, and are investing in the future legal minds of Uganda.

Why the Vis Moot is Important to Us

Since October 2023, we have fully immersed ourselves in the study of international commercial law and arbitration. We have spent great time and resources on research, writing, and refining our legal advocacy skills in preparation for this competition. To us, the Vis is not just a competition: it is an opportunity for us to explore an alternative form of dispute resolution; develop new skills and acquire vital knowledge that will make us versatile professionals; and exercise what we have learnt in a practical context. Most importantly, participating in the Vis Moot will help us create and nurture new friendships and professional networks, by engaging with experts and practitioners of international commercial law and arbitration, and by competing against the best and brightest legal minds from across the world. As law students, this experience is crucial for our educational and professional growth.

Use of Funds

All contributions made to our GoFundMe campaign will go towards:

1. Round-trip flight tickets for four students and one coach (EUR 4,750); and

2. Stipend for four students (EUR 960) - for meals and transport while in Vienna.

We hope to meet our fundraising target of EUR 5,500 by 15th March 2024. We kindly ask you to help us meet this deadline.

Thanks to the GoFundMe contributions we received, our team has successfully paid for its:

1. Visa fees; and

2. Travel insurance;

Be Part of Our Vis Journey

In the spirit of transparency and inclusion, we invite you to check out our LinkedIn and Instagram pages to learn more about our team and to connect with us! :) We post regularly on our socials and will keep you updated on our progress here, on our GoFundMe campaign.

We make this humble appeal for your generosity to help us make our dream a reality. Your donation, no matter how big or small, will take us a step closer to representing Uganda at the world’s largest international commercial law and arbitration moot.

Thank you for your contribution!