The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has issued an arrest warrant for Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde after he failed to appear in court to answer charges of allegedly insulting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo.
Ssemakadde, known for his outspoken criticism of government officials, was summoned to court to respond to allegations of indecently insulting the DPP. Despite being served with criminal summons twice, he did not attend the scheduled hearings.
On February 24, 2025, Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi issued the arrest warrant after Ssemakadde’s lawyer, Derrick Bazekuketta, failed to provide sufficient reasons for his client’s absence. Magistrate Kayizzi emphasised that the court could not extend summons a third time without valid justification.
The charges against Ssemakadde stem from alleged offensive statements made about DPP Abodo in 2022. His absence from court has prompted authorities to issue the arrest warrant to compel his appearance.
If Ssemakadde is outside Uganda, the authorities may seek an international arrest warrant—commonly referred to as a Red Notice through Interpol. A Red Notice is a request issued by a country’s judicial authority to Interpol, seeking the arrest and extradition of a suspect from any member country.
While Interpol does not have the power to enforce arrests, its notices alert law enforcement agencies worldwide to detain wanted individuals upon entry into any jurisdiction that cooperates with Uganda.
If Ssemakadde is in a country that recognises Interpol Red Notices and has an extradition agreement with Uganda, he risks being detained and deported to face charges. However, individuals can challenge extradition on political or legal grounds.