Ssemakadde Shoots Down Museveni's End-Year Speech, Asks Him to Follow Constitution

Radical New Bar President Isaac Ssemakadde has strongly criticized President Yoweri Museveni's end-year speech, describing aspects of it as an affront to constitutional rights.

Ssemakadde reaffirmed his commitment to upholding justice and warned against the arbitrary deprivation of liberty under the guise of bureaucratic procedures.

In his statement, Ssemakadde reminded the public and authorities that no individual should be subjected to detention due to "bureaucratic incompetence and overreach."

His remarks come in response to Museveni's directive to tighten bail and bond issuance, which has sparked widespread debate among legal experts and human rights advocates.

“Justice must never be sacrificed at the altar of expediency. Our laws are clear, and arbitrary actions erode public trust in the judiciary and other arms of government,” Ssemakadde said.

Museveni’s controversial remarks emphasized stricter measures on bail and police bonds, arguing that leniency enables criminality. However, critics, including Ssemakadde, have highlighted the risk of such measures violating constitutional provisions on due process and personal freedoms.

Ssemakadde emphasized that Uganda’s legal framework is rooted in the principles of fairness, accountability, and protection of individual rights. He urged the government to prioritize adherence to the rule of law rather than issuing directives that undermine judicial independence.

“The judiciary must remain independent and steadfast. It is not a tool for political convenience,” Ssemakadde asserted.

LINK: https://x.com/ug_lawsociety/status/1874418368377246119

As public discourse intensifies, legal professionals and human rights activists have rallied behind Ssemakadde's call for constitutional fidelity.

The Uganda Law Society and other bodies have also urged the government to focus on systemic reforms rather than arbitrary decrees that jeopardize the rights of citizens.