ULS President Ssemakadde wants judge off his case
Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde. PHOTO/FILE/HANDOUT
What you need to know:
- ULS President Ssemakadde's petition emphasizes that his case is not merely personal but reflects deeper systemic concerns about judicial accountability.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) President and prominent human rights lawyer Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde has petitioned the judiciary over what he calls “judicial inertia” and persistent delays in the hearing of a civil case he filed against Mugishu Hashim Mugisha.
In a letter dated June 20, 2025, addressed to Acting Principal Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga, Ssemakadde requested the immediate transfer of his case from Justice Joyce Kavuma to another judicial officer, citing concerns over impartiality, repeated adjournments, and what he describes as an erosion of his professional and personal rights.
Ssemakadde, currently living in self-imposed exile, said the case, filed on February 20, 2025, has suffered lengthy delays, including a fresh adjournment to August 19, nearly six months after the original filing.
“These adjournments have not only delayed justice but have significantly disrupted my ability to perform my official duties as President of the Uganda Law Society,” Ssemakadde said in the petition.
The human rights lawyer further stated that his complaint and request for recusal of Justice Kavuma have been “callously ignored”, compounding the emotional and reputational damage he has endured.
“Irreparable harm has already been caused to my livelihood, reputation, family life, and leadership role. I have missed crucial business engagements, the funerals of loved ones, and personal family milestones including the birth of my daughter and my son’s high school commencement,” Ssemakadde wrote.
He contends that the prolonged delay effectively renders his application meaningless, undermining both access to justice and the credibility of Uganda’s judicial system.
“An adjournment to August will be too late. The toll on my office and personal obligations will be irreversible,” he added, citing Articles 28(1), 31(4), and 38 of the Constitution which guarantee a fair and speedy trial, protection of family life, and the right to public participation.
Ssemakadde's petition emphasizes that his case is not merely personal but reflects deeper systemic concerns about judicial accountability.
“This is not just a personal matter. It reflects broader concerns about access to justice. It is essential that urgent steps be taken to prevent further damage to the integrity of the courts,” he stated.
As a remedy, Ssemakadde has urged the Acting Principal Judge to recall the case file from the Civil Division and either handle it herself or assign it to a different judge, preferably outside the division, to ensure an expeditious hearing.
The Uganda Law Society has also formally backed Ssemakadde’s call for reassignment, framing the issue as a test of judicial responsiveness in high-stakes human rights cases.
No official response from the judiciary had been issued by press time.
