ULS president Ssemakadde summoned over insulting DPP

Uganda Law Society (ULS) president, Mr Isaac Ssemakadde
What you need to know:
- The Chief Magistrate, Mr Ronald Kayizzi ordered Mr Ssemakadde to appear in court after finding a prima facie case against him after he was charged with indecent assault.
Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala has summoned Uganda Law Society (ULS) president, Mr Isaac Ssemakadde to appear in court on January 29 for allegedly insulting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Ronald Kayizzi ordered Mr Ssemakadde to appear in court after finding a prima facie case against him after he was charged with indecent assault.
“Anyone who refers to a woman by her private body parts intends to insult her modesty. Anyone who refers to a woman as “v***na from Karamoja… a pumpkin... dead wood... a dimwit” at a public gathering well aware that there is media presence knows that the said woman will definitely hear those words said against her. The intention is most likely to insult her modesty,“ Mr Kayizzi said as he issued summons against Mr Ssemakadde to appear and defend himself. .
According to the magistrate, “The application also has a letter from the Local Council Chairperson who stated that the utterances were indeed made on November 18, 2024 in her area. I did inquire from the said Ward Administrator by a letter dated January 14, 2025 on the alleged commission of the said offence and in her letter dated January 15, 2025 she conferred that indeed the utterances were made.”
The magistrate said the person in the video evidence submitted court was identified as Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde, the president of ULS and that his advocates did not dispute when they appeared in court on December 4, 2024.
Mr Kayizzi further noted that although Mr Ssemakadde’s lawyers had argued that since Justice Abodo did not complain, the case should not proceed as it is victim centered, Section 42 (1) (c) and (3) of the Magistrates' Court Act (MCA) states that any person with reasonable cause can make a complaint, regardless of being the victim and therefore, court could not dismiss the complaint.
“In conclusion, the complaint has complied with Section 42 (3) (4), (5) (6) and (7) of the Magistrates Courts Act. I find that a prima facie case has been established on the offence of insulting the modesty of a woman Contrary to Section 115 (3) of the Penal Code Act. It is fair that Mr Ssemakadde be summoned to appear in court and explain what he meant by the words,” Mr Kayizzi held.
Adding “I do hereby draw the charge sheet and sign the same against the accused. I do hereby issue Criminal Summons against the said accused to appear before this Court to answer the charge of insulting the modesty of a woman Contrary to Section 115 (3) of the Penal Code Act. Accused to appear in Court on the 29th/01/2025 for plea.”
The court’s decision comes months after two lawyers; Mr Tonny Tumukunde and Mr Joshua Byamazima initiated private prosecution against Mr Ssemakadde for indecently assaulting the DPP.
The complaints claimed that on November 18, 2024 while addressing the members of the People’s Freedom Front (PFF) at a symposium on the State of the Rule of Law, Constitutionalism and Human Rights at Katonga Road in Kampala Central, Kampala District uttered the following words, Mr Ssemakadde said ”…..that all these things like your particular kaffir form is given legal dressing by this v***na from Karamoja…I have made a case before that we have a pumpkin for a DPP, but some lawyers continue to pretend that she is actually the DPP.She is dead wood….”
The same court has also dismissed Mr Ssemakedde’s application that had sought to have the complaint filed against him on grounds that the intended prosecution was manifestly brought in bad faith, that the court is in totality of the circumstances, deprived of jurisdiction save for dismissal of the impugned complaint, the impugned complaint and supporting affidavit are grossly incompetent, frivolous and vexatious, a mockery of concern for women’s rights, a breach of the right to freedom of opinion and freedom of expression, and an abuse of Court process among others.
Mr Kayizzi held that his court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the case arising from the said utterances.
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