The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has called for an urgent meeting between the judiciary and the legal profession to resolve their escalating crisis.
This call comes after Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo demanded an apology from the ULS leadership for allegedly insulting judicial officers, including Justice Musa Ssekaana.
The ULS views the Chief Justice’s demands as an attempt to “weaponize the judiciary” and silence its president, Isaac Ssemakadde.
The controversy began in January 2022 when High Court Judge Ssekaana found lawyer Male Mabirizi in contempt of court and ordered him to pay a fine.
Ssemakadde criticized Ssekaana’s decision on social media, prompting the Chief Justice’s demand for an apology.
The ULS has refused to apologize, instead requesting a meeting facilitated by neutral mediators to resolve the crisis.
In a strongly worded letter, the ULS Governing Council expressed its objection to the Chief Justice’s actions, stating that they undermine the principles of justice, the rule of law, and the independence of the Bar. The ULS also sent copies of its protest note to several high-ranking officials, including the Deputy Chief Justice and the Principal Judge.
Meanwhile, the ULS has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UK-Ugandan Lawyers Association (UULA) to foster cooperation and collaboration between Ugandan lawyers in the UK and their counterparts in Uganda. The MOU aims to facilitate cooperation, establish a cross-border referral system, promote networking, and develop training programs for UK-trained Ugandan lawyers.
