Ssemakadde Rejects Juicy Appointment By CJ Dollo

Uganda Law Society President, Isaac Ssemakadde

Kampala: Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has rejected his appointment to the Law Reform Committee, accusing Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo of fostering judicial tyranny and undermining public accountability.

In a strongly worded letter dated June 17, Ssemakadde wrote: “I refuse the appointment… Your actions at the opening of the New Law Year on 7 February 2025, including removing me from the programme, demanding an apology, and declaring the Bar unwelcome to ‘your home’, have sown seeds of discord.”

He cited his ongoing self-exile following a February 14 arrest warrant issued over alleged contempt of court against Justice Musa Ssekaana. 

“A manifestly void order… has been pending expungement for far too long, forcing me indefinitely into exile,” he said, warning it raised concerns about “the judiciary’s credibility, fairness, and efficiency.”

Ssemakadde also condemned delays in the justice system, pointing to the lawyers’ strike in Masaka over a backlog of 4,290 cases managed by only one judge and registrar. 

“Masaka is not an outlier. Unmanned judiciary hardware has become the norm,” he noted.

He urged the Law Reform Committee to prioritize reform of the colonial-era law on “scandalizing the judiciary,” calling it “a blunt instrument of judicial tyranny.” 

Insults

Quoting British judge Simon Brown, he added: “Citizen insults of judicial officers should warrant no more than ‘a wry smile’.”

Ssemakadde recommended ULS Vice President Anthony Asimwe to take his place, stating: “I have full confidence in his abilities to contribute to the noble endeavour of law reform.”

While Ssemakadde’s blistering letter underscores legitimate grievances within Uganda’s judicial system, questions remain over whether rejecting the appointment amounts to a missed opportunity to enact reforms from within.

Some legal observers argue that participation in the Law Reform Committee would have given the ULS a crucial platform to influence key decisions, especially on issues like transparency, public accountability, and the independence of the judiciary.

The Judiciary has not yet responded