Just In!! Court Clears Way for Prosecution of ULS President Ssemakadde Over Woman’s Modesty Case
The High Court in Kampala has rejected an application filed by Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde, allowing a private criminal case against him to continue. The case accuses him of abusing the “modesty of a woman” through offensive comments on social media.
Justice Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa made the ruling, confirming that the Chief Magistrate of Buganda Road Court acted within the law when he approved the private prosecution request. The charges were brought by two individuals, Joshua Byamaziima and Tonny Tumukunde, who accuse Ssemakadde of violating Section 115(3) of Uganda’s Penal Code Act. This law deals with actions that are considered to offend the modesty of a woman.
The case is based on several social media posts, including a harsh tweet aimed at the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo. These posts sparked outrage and led to a push for legal action. In response, Ssemakadde filed a revision application with the High Court, challenging the decision of the Chief Magistrate.
In his application, Ssemakadde listed 12 reasons why the case should not go forward. He claimed that the Magistrate abused his powers, denied him a fair hearing, and was influenced by political motives. He also argued that the charges were an attack on his right to free speech.
However, Justice Gadenya disagreed, saying the law was followed correctly and that the application had no merit. “I have found that the Chief Magistrate correctly followed the law in sanctioning a private prosecution against the Applicant,” the judge ruled. With this decision, the road is now clear for the private prosecution to continue.
This ruling adds to the growing legal troubles for Ssemakadde. He is also facing separate contempt of court charges for allegedly insulting High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana in a social media post. That case has yet to be resolved, and it has already pushed Ssemakadde into what he calls self-imposed exile. He insists the case is “manifestly void” and has gained support from parts of the legal community.
Tensions between Ssemakadde and Uganda’s judiciary are not new. Just recently, he refused an appointment to the Judiciary’s Law Reform Committee, accusing Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo of leading what he called a “tyrannical and hypersensitive judiciary.” In a strongly worded letter dated June 17, Ssemakadde criticized the Chief Justice for removing him from the programme at the opening of the New Law Year and for demanding an apology. He said such actions had created division between the Bar and the Bench.
As the cases continue to unfold, many are watching closely. The developments have stirred debate in Uganda’s legal and political circles, raising questions about freedom of expression, judicial independence, and the role of lawyers in public life.
