Uganda Law Society President Isaac Ssemakadde has rejected his appointment to the Judiciary’s Law Reform Committee.
In an open letter to Uganda’s Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo, Ssemakadde cited systemic corruption, judicial misconduct, and what he termed “the albatross of fragile egos” in the country’s courts.
Ssemakadde, a vocal legal reformist and current leader of the Radical New Bar (RNB), accused the Chief Justice of deliberately avoiding meaningful dialogue with the Bar and fostering a culture of tyranny and oppression within the judiciary.
“I unapologetically decline the appointment,” Ssemakadde wrote in a letter dated June 2025, referencing an appointment letter issued by the Chief Justice on May 19, 2025.
“Your legacy is justice denied through delay.”
Ssemakadde to Uganda’s Chief Justice
Ssemakadde also accused the Chief Justice of ignoring a January 16 request from the ULS Governing Council for a consultative meeting to address critical issues affecting justice delivery.
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Instead, the ULS president claims, he was removed from the official program of the Judiciary’s New Law Year opening on February 7, and publicly castigated, an incident he says has deepened the divide between legal practitioners and the bench.
“Had you accepted our request, Mr. Chief Justice, our nation’s justice sector would probably be back on track by now,” the letter states.
Ssemakadde pointed to the ongoing strike by advocates in Masaka, serving over 2 million residents, due to an overwhelming judicial backlog.
A single judge and registrar are reportedly handling over 4,000 pending cases in the region.
He also cited the recent Court of Appeal decision in Kiwanuka v Kiwanuka as evidence of misconduct by High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana.
The ruling found the judge violated procedural fairness and transparency, reinforcing RNB’s earlier call for a professional boycott against him.
Exile Over Contempt Charges
Ssemakadde claims he has been forced into indefinite exile after a February 14 contempt of court order was issued against him, allegedly for online comments about Judge Ssekaana.
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He described the order as “manifestly void” and emblematic of a judiciary unwilling to accept public criticism.
He further called for urgent reform of Uganda’s colonial-era contempt laws, especially the offense of “scandalizing the judiciary,” which he argued stifles legitimate criticism.
Quoting global judicial standards, including the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles, Ssemakadde urged the Law Reform Committee to begin its work by addressing outdated contempt laws.
According to a 2021 Inspectorate of Government report, Ugandans paid UGX 763 billion in bribes within the justice sector, 43% of the judiciary’s 2019 budget.
Ssemakadde said the focus should shift to tackling delays, corruption, and opacity in court processes.
On the other hand, Ssemakadde nominated ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe to take his place on the committee, citing his qualifications and integrity.
“I have full confidence in his abilities to contribute to the noble endeavour of law reform in Uganda,” he wrote.
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