In a bold and defiant statement issued hours after the High Court sentenced Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde to two years in prison for contempt of court, the ULS has dismissed the ruling as illegal and vowed to resist what it calls “judicial intimidation.”
ULS Vice President Asiimwe Anthony, in an official statement, assured members of the legal community that the organization would not bow to what it perceives as an orchestrated attack on the independence of the legal profession.
“We want to assure you that we have not been caught off guard. This is part of a larger scheme to oppress the Radical New Bar, but we remain vigilant and ready to fight back,” the statement reads.
Ssemakadde, a vocal and controversial lawyer known for his sharp criticism of Uganda’s judiciary, was sentenced for allegedly making derogatory social media remarks against Justice Musa Ssekaana.
His conviction has now triggered a fierce backlash from lawyers, human rights defenders, and civil society groups, who view it as an attempt to silence judicial accountability.
ULS has accused the judiciary of using contempt laws as a shield against criticism, warning that such rulings erode democracy and threaten free speech in Uganda.
Beyond rejecting Ssemakadde’s sentence, ULS has unveiled a bold plan to push for judicial reforms.
The society announced its intention to constitute a new Judicial Service Commission, led by democratically elected ULS nominees, to investigate and expose corruption within the judiciary.
“We must stand strong and united in our pursuit of justice and accountability. This ruling is void and has no legal effect whatsoever,” ULS declared.
With emotions running high and Uganda’s legal community sharply divided, the battle between ULS and the judiciary is far from over.
