Isaac Ssemakadde Takes Charge of Uganda Law Society with Bold Independence Agenda
Isaac Ssemakadde, the newly sworn-in President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), has unveiled a transformative agenda aimed at restoring the organization’s autonomy and reclaiming its role as a defender of justice. During his swearing-in ceremony, Ssemakadde pledged to break the chains of government influence, particularly targeting the role of the Attorney General’s office within the ULS council, a relationship he described as undermining the very fabric of the legal profession.
“Our mission is to restore the integrity of the Uganda Law Society by eliminating undue influence,” Ssemakadde stated emphatically. “The ULS must stand independent of government control and focus solely on upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of the people.”
One of his central priorities is to remove representatives from the Attorney General’s office from the ULS council, a move he believes is crucial to the organization’s independence. “The Attorney General’s representatives in our council violate United Nations standards for the independence of legal institutions,” he said, criticizing the current setup. He also took a direct swipe at Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, accusing him of compromising the independence of the legal fraternity. “The Attorney General has become too drunk on power,” Ssemakadde added.
Ssemakadde has already begun taking action. “We have initiated legal proceedings to remove these representatives from our council,” he announced, signaling his readiness to protect ULS’s autonomy. “Our fight is not with the government, but for the constitution, and that’s where our loyalty lies.”
His reform agenda doesn’t stop with legal independence. Ssemakadde also vowed to confront deep-rooted societal issues, including land grabbing, electoral fraud, and the ever-present scourge of corruption. “The Uganda Law Society will fight for justice, not just within the legal profession, but across the entire nation,” he pledged. He pointed out that these societal challenges cannot be tackled effectively if the legal system itself is compromised.
Ssemakadde made it clear that his leadership would not cater to government interests. “ULS doesn’t take instructions from the government, but rather from the constitution,” he emphasized, accusing the current administration of conflating the two. “We are here to protect the rights of all Ugandans, and we will not rest until justice is delivered.”
As Ssemakadde steps into his new role, the legal fraternity and the public alike are watching closely to see how his ambitious reforms will shape the future of the Uganda Law Society. His strong stance on independence and commitment to justice have already signaled a new era for the organization.
