Outspoken Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has turned down his appointment to the Judiciary’s Law Reform Committee, accusing Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo of enabling judicial abuse, silencing dissent, and overseeing a justice system plagued by corruption and impunity.
In a blistering letter dated June 17, 2025, addressed to the Chief Justice, Ssemakadde declared that he "unapologetically" declined the offer to serve, saying his continued exile—triggered by a contempt of court order issued against him in February—makes it impossible for him to participate in meaningful reform.
“I am compelled to reject this appointment, though seemingly beneficial, due to your provocation of Judge Ssekaana’s egregious judicial misconduct,” Ssemakadde wrote, referring to High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana, who ordered his committal to civil prison on February 14, 2025, over alleged insults posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
That committal, which Ssemakadde described as unlawful and “manifestly void,” has not been overturned and remains on the judicial record, forcing the controversial lawyer into self-imposed exile.
While his exact location remains undisclosed, his allies have confirmed that he left the country in March, citing fears of arbitrary detention.
Fallout with the Judiciary
Ssemakadde’s troubles with the Judiciary did not begin this year. As the founder of the Legal Brains Trust and a fierce advocate for legal accountability, he has for years challenged what he calls “judicial arrogance,” often clashing with senior judges over issues ranging from access to justice, corruption, and abuse of power.
His long-simmering feud with Judge Ssekaana escalated into open hostility in 2024 when the Uganda Law Society’s Radical New Bar faction, which he leads, issued an executive order calling for a boycott of the judge.
The boycott followed growing complaints from litigants and lawyers who accused Ssekaana of bias, poor temperament, and disregard for procedural fairness.
In a recent vindication of that position, the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled in Kiwanuka v. Kiwanuka (Civil Appeal 61 of 2020) that Ssekaana had breached constitutional standards in his handling of the case.
But the Judiciary has so far taken no disciplinary action, a point Ssemakadde highlighted in his rejection letter: “Will you also publicly ask him to apologize?”
The tension came to a head in February during the ceremonial opening of the New Law Year, when Ssemakadde was reportedly struck off the programme at the last minute.
The Chief Justice used the event to rebuke the Bar, declaring them unwelcome in “his house” unless they issued an apology for past criticisms.
This public rupture was preceded by ULS's January 16 letter requesting a consultative meeting with the Judiciary to ease tensions.
The meeting never materialized.
Ssemakadde has also been a relentless critic of Uganda’s contempt of court laws—particularly the colonial-era doctrine of “scandalising the judiciary”—which he argues is now being misused to silence legitimate public criticism.
He urged the Law Reform Committee to make it a priority to amend those laws, noting that judicial hypersensitivity to criticism is crippling freedom of expression and undermining public trust in the courts.
Citing a 2021 report from the Inspectorate of Government that found Shs763 billion in bribes paid by court users, Ssemakadde warned that corruption remains the Judiciary’s biggest albatross.
“As long as critics are hunted into exile while complaints against judges are ignored, the Ugandan Judiciary cannot credibly lead any reform,” he said.
Instead, he recommended that ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe be appointed to the Law Reform Committee in his place, saying he had full confidence in Asiimwe’s ability to carry forward the Society’s mandate.
The Judiciary is yet to respond to Ssemakadde's fierce rejection.