The Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate has ordered the immediate arrest of runaway Uganda Law Society (ULS) president Isaac Ssemakadde.
Mr Ssemakadde, who took over the ULS under his banner of the so-called Radical New Bar, faces charges of insulting the modesty of a woman, under Section 115(3) of the Penal Code Act, Cap 128.
"You are hereby directed to arrest the said Isaac K. Ssemakadde and to produce him before me as soon as possible. Herein fail not," Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi ordered on Monday, February 24, 2025.
Mr Ssemakadde’s charges stem from remarks he allegedly made during a symposium in November 2024, where he reportedly insulted Justice Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The comments, which went viral on social media, led to public outrage over their nature and content.
Despite the serious charges, Ssemakadde’s legal team argued that he should not be compelled to appear in court in person, as he had legal representation.
They claimed that the request for an arrest warrant was “unnecessary and prejudicial.”
However, the prosecution insisted on his physical presence to formally address the charges.
This arrest order comes in the wake of a separate legal battle, where Ssemakadde was sentenced to two years in prison by High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana for contempt of court. Ssemakadde’s social media posts, which included offensive remarks about the judiciary and specifically targeted Judge Ssekaana, were deemed to undermine the authority of the court.
Justice Ssekaana condemned the remarks, highlighting the importance of judicial independence and stating that such attacks erode public confidence in the legal system.
Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo also denounced the behavior, calling it a “vulgar, primitive assault” on the judiciary.
As Ssemakadde remains on the run, legal observers and the public are closely watching the unfolding situation, which continues to raise questions about the limits of free speech and the responsibilities of public figures in the legal profession.
