Ugandan lawyer and human rights activist Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde has taken his fight for justice to the High Court, challenging arrest warrants issued against him by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.
The warrants, issued in Criminal Case No. 913 of 2024, have ignited debate over legal fairness, political motivations and international human rights standards.
Ssemakadde contends that the warrants are unjustified, politically motivated and infringe upon his fundamental freedoms.
His legal team has filed a petition seeking their immediate cancellation setting the stage for a high-stakes courtroom battle.
The case took a sharp turn on March 19, 2025, when Ssemakadde publicly declared his intention to fight what he calls “a clear violation of my right to freedom of expression and movement.”
In his statement, he denounced the Buganda Road Court’s decision arguing that it contradicts international legal standards governing the issuance of arrest warrants.
His lawyers have also initiated steps to engage INTERPOL in preventing any potential red notice from being issued against him.
Documents from GEM Advocates, Ssemakadde’s legal representatives reveal that an application, Miscellaneous Application No. 0030 of 2025 was filed before the High Court.
The petition seeks a ruling notice and temporary order halting proceedings at the lower court.
The legal team argues that the Buganda Road Magistrates Court has ignored proper judicial procedures and failed to ensure a fair trial.
Adding urgency to the matter, GEM Advocates pointed out that despite their pending revision request, the lower court has refused to stay the proceedings putting Ssemakadde’s liberty at risk.
The High Court is now being called upon to intervene and correct what his lawyers describe as a “severe miscarriage of justice.”
Ssemakadde has been a vocal critic of government policies and some suspect that his legal troubles may be linked to his activism.
The case also raises concerns about the broader implications for freedom of expression and judicial integrity in Uganda.
With the High Court now involved, it upon Justice Paul W. Gadenya to determine whether the Buganda Road Court overstepped its authority.
For now, Ssemakadde remains defiant insisting that he will not bow to what he describes as judicial persecution. “Justice must prevail, and I will not be silenced,” he asserted in his latest statement.
