Uganda law society speaks out about Ssemakadde sentence

Uganda Law Society (ULS) Deputy president Anthony Asimwe, spoke to Mildred Pedun on the way forward after the High Court ordered the arrest of the Bar’s president. 

Is the Uganda Law Society going to hand over the president to go to jail?

One thing I can assure you is that the president of Uganda Law Society (ULS) will not be detained at any cost. We shall not allow that to happen and it is not going to happen because in any case, we look at this ruling as unfortunate. It’s unprecedented and we don’t believe it will be implemented.

Comment on the events leading up to this feud that is happening between the judge and the ULS president

If you look at the events as they have been unfolding, I think even a Year One student would know that a person cannot act as a judge in their own case… Look at what happened on February 7 during the opening of the New Law Year; that was a warning issued. We saw the Chief Justice weaponising the Judiciary. Of course, it is a ploy to silence the radical new Bar in our demand for accountability and justice, beginning with the most outspoken—president Isaac Ssemakadde.

Criticism of the Judiciary is a necessary part of accountability but then where do we draw the line between legitimate criticism and the concept of contempt of court because it appears that the Judiciary is not in agreement with how the ULS president is handling his expressions

First of all, criticism is criticism and if a judicial officer or any person in that position cannot take criticism as it is and chooses to fight back using such measures, it is very unfortunate and very wrong. They should be able to accept criticism. And again, this was a one-sided ruling where Ssemakadde was not heard. It’s just a one-sided ruling where someone comes up with allegations and a judicial officer chooses to take advantage of the situation to punish or show their dissatisfaction in that manner.

What is your next action as the ULS?

As I said, we’re not surprised by this. We saw it coming because it was clearly communicated. We were not caught off guard. We are aware of what the Judiciary is trying to do in a bid to silence the radical new Bar from demanding accountability. And from the time of Executive Order Number Two, where we declared that we intend to radically fight for the independence of the Judiciary and also work towards weeding out the corrupt and incompetent judicial officers, it’s been a back-andforth. It’s been an attack and trying to silence us. 

Now as the radical Bar, we shall not stop at that. Our focus is on proceeding with fighting for accountability and weeding out incompetent and corrupt judicial officers from the Judiciary for the sake of the rule of law. We have a whole membership behind us on the legal steps to be taken to fight this kind of ruling.