The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has raised significant concerns regarding the ongoing delays in hearings for President Ssemakadde’s legal cases, which include multiple arrest warrants and a contempt conviction.
These delays have escalated tensions, particularly after Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo took the drastic step of banning Ssemakadde from speaking at the 2025 New Law Year opening ceremony, demanding an apology for alleged insults toward the judiciary.
Ssemakadde’s cases have yet to be scheduled for hearings, and his contempt conviction resulting from derogatory remarks about the judiciary on social media has been a source of further contention.
The ULS believes these ongoing delays undermine the rule of law and the efficiency of the judicial system.
Anthony Asiimwe, the Vice President of the ULS, emphasized the importance of resolving these issues through dialogue between the judiciary and the government.
He stated that the delays are eroding public trust in the judicial system, warning that such issues could have long-term consequences for the legal sector.
In response to the escalating tensions, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, recently offered to mediate between the conflicting parties in an effort to resolve the issues and prevent further deterioration in the relationship between the judiciary and the government.
The ULS is calling for a more transparent and fair approach to handling legal matters, urging both the judiciary and the government to engage in meaningful dialogue and find a resolution that ensures justice is served without further public distrust.
By Ben Musanje
3rd April 2025
End
