The President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Isaac Ssemakadde, has vowed to challenge his two-year contempt of court sentence, demanding an apology from the judiciary over what he describes as a politically motivated and flawed ruling.
Speaking from Kigali, where he is attending the 3rd East African Court of Justice Judiciary Conference, Ssemakadde dismissed the ruling by High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana as a “storm in a teacup,” asserting that due process will ultimately vindicate him.
“Luckily, we have due process in the country. Due process will ensure that all my rights, as I understand them, are preserved until a properly constituted court can grant me the opportunity to contest that ruling,” Ssemakadde said.
Ssemakadde insists that the ruling is not only an attack on his personal conduct but also part of an effort to suppress his leadership of a “radical new bar” advocating for reforms in Uganda’s legal profession. He stressed that the case is more about the future of the legal profession and the accountability of the judiciary.
“It’s absurd that we’re here, but I have great confidence that the better angels—both at the bar and the bench will rise to the occasion and make this less about Isaac Ssemakadde and more about the future of the legal profession,” he added.
The ULS President reaffirmed that the society is actively taking legal action to contest the ruling and emphasised his right to freedom of expression. “Any form of isolation, intimidation, or harassment will not be accepted,” he declared.
Notably, Ssemakadde found himself seated next to Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka at the judiciary conference, despite their long-standing public disputes. Kiwanuka has been one of Ssemakadde’s most vocal opponents, with the two frequently clashing over legal reforms, government accountability, and judicial independence.
The conflict between Ssemakadde and Kiwanuka escalated in October 2024 when Ssemakadde expelled Kiwanuka and the Solicitor General from the ULS Council, citing a 2012 report by Prof. Frederick Ssempebwa that recommended preventing conflicts of interest within the Council. Ssemakadde accused Kiwanuka of compromising legal integrity due to his dual roles as Attorney General and a partner at K&K Advocates.
Kiwanuka challenged Ssemakadde’s authority to expel him, arguing that the Attorney General’s presence on the Council is mandated by parliamentary legislation, not by ULS directives.
In a further escalation, Kiwanuka filed a defamation suit against Ssemakadde, alleging that the ULS President had falsely labeled him as “incompetent, unjust, corrupt, and a criminal,” damaging his professional standing. Ssemakadde has, in turn, accused Kiwanuka of misconduct, arguing that his tenure threatens the integrity of Uganda’s legal system.
Despite being outside Uganda, Ssemakadde remains steadfast in his leadership, asserting that his vision for a “radical new bar” will shape the future of Uganda’s legal profession for decades.
“You can be sure of this—until the year 2060, the radical new bar will be in charge of the legal profession in Uganda,” he said.
As his legal team prepares to challenge the ruling, Ssemakadde emphasised that the fight is far from over. “The battle is just beginning,” he concluded.