Dozens of lawyers on Friday stormed the High Court in Kampala to follow up on the case in which two members of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) are challenging the decision by their President Isaac Ssemakadde to expel the Attorney General and the Solicitor General as representatives on the Uganda Law Society Council.

Those who sued are lawyers; Tony Tumukunde and Joshua Byamazima.  

They petitioned the Court challenging the October 14th 2024 Executive Order Number One issued by Ssemakadde expelling the Solicitor General and the Attorney General from the ten-member Council where they were ex officio members.

In his order, Ssemakadde cited a string of allegations against him including professional misconduct and conflict of interest.

Tumukunde and Byamazima petitioned the High Court Civil Division seeking an order to quash the said decision on grounds that it was unlawful.   

They said the expulsion of the Attorney General and Solicitor General disrupts the lawful composition of the council as prescribed by the ULS Act.

Tumukunde and Byamazima told the Court to grant them an interim injunction pending the determination of the main suit which they believe raises substantial issues and with chances of succeeding.

However, the application seeking an interim injunction was today expected to be heard before the Civil Division Judge Esta Nambayo, but she was not present. 

The Clerk to the Judge proposed to adjourn the matter to next week on Monday but the lawyers disagreed but later went to the Registrar of the Division and signed a consent to adjourn the matter to November 13th 2024.

Anthony Bazira represented Tumukunde and Byamazima who were also present at the court, while Jude Byamukama represented Ssemakadde and the ULS. 

By Our Reporter

8 Nov 2024

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