Minister mediates as law society boss declared a fugitive

Controversial Ugandan Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde is fighting for his freedom, from an unknown location, after an international warrant was issued for his arrest, turning him into a fugitive, and which has now prompted the Minister of Justice to mediate in the matter, notes Legalbrief. According to the Pulse, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao has taken the lead in mediating the worsening tensions between Ssemakadde and the juidiciary. Mao has announced that he had reached out to a number of leaders in the judiciary including the Chief Justice, Alphonse Owiny-Dollo, and received positive feedback about a possible gentlemanly settlement. Speaking at a ULS media engagement event, Mao expressed concern over the whereabouts of Ssemakadde, whose status has remained unclear since the court in Kampala issued a warrant for his arrest. Justice Musa Ssekaana on 14 February, sentenced the ULS president to two years in prison for contempt of court. The court found that Ssemakadde had made derogatory comments about the judiciary, which were deemed a threat to judicial officers. The ruling sparked outrage among members of the legal fraternity, with ULS vice-president Asiimwe Anthony condemning the decision as ‘one-sided’ and ‘manifestly void’.

Following the ruling, Ssemakadde announced on social media that he was in Rwanda for 'pre-approved duties'. However, weeks later, he indicated that he would soon return to Uganda, though his absence continues to raise questions. Last week, the Buganda Road Court issued an international arrest warrant for Ssemakadde after he failed to appear in court despite previous summons and arrest warrants, reports Pulse. Mao revealed that he had engaged in discussions with the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, Ssekaana of the Court of Appeal, the Inspector-General of Police and the Commandant of Kampala Metropolitan Police. According to Mao, the Attorney-General expressed support for the mediation process, despite his dissatisfaction with the statements made by Ssemakadde. The Chief Justice, however, has demanded an apology from Ssemakadde, stating that the judiciary feels wronged by the remarks made. Mao has vowed to track down the ULS president and deliver this message, even if it meant travelling abroad to find him.

With a criminal charge of insulting the modesty of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo, a contempt of court sentence hanging over his head, and now an international arrest warrant, Ssemakadde is facing a crisis that could see him locked away in Luzira Prison unless he navigates his legal options carefully, writes Bridget Nsimenta in the Nile Post. Nsimenta says the Buganda Road Court’s issuance of an Interpol warrant for the arrest of Ssemakadde marks an escalation in his battle with the judiciary and state authorities. ‘What began as his unapologetic, iconoclastic approach to legal activism embodied in what he calls the “Radical New Bar” – has now positioned him as a fugitive.’ According to Nsimenta, this latest move is part of a broader clash that has unfolded between Ssemakadde and the country’s legal establishment, a battle that began with his abrasive but compelling rhetoric. ‘His rise to the presidency of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) on 28 September 2024, during the ULS AGM was not the usual quiet ascension to a ceremonial role. From the outset, he used the position to unsettle the status quo, issuing tongue-in-cheek "executive orders", including a symbolic declaration of the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General as persona non grata in the Law Council.'

'He turned social media into a weapon, hurling relentless barbs at his predecessors and the legal establishment.’ Nsimenta points out that Ssemakadde, who assumed office on 4 October 2024, succeeding Bernard Oundo, had no patience with the latter and also turned his fury on Phiona Wall, who led ULS before Oundo. ‘He called them enough names to make an adult weep in public. At first, the legal fraternity, long accustomed to formality, met his antics with scepticism. Yet, Ssemakadde's legal prowess and fearless advocacy won him reluctant admiration, even from those he antagonised.’ Nsimenta notes that his cordial meeting with Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo over lunch months into his tenure suggested that, despite his abrasiveness, his influence was undeniable. ‘But the tide turned sharply at the opening of the judiciary year, where the Chief Justice made it clear that the judiciary would no longer tolerate what he termed “vulgar, primitive assaults”. His remarks, cutting and direct, left no room for ambiguity’. The tension between Ssemakadde and the judiciary soon translated into legal battles, states Nsimenta in the Nile Post. The charge of ‘insulting the modesty of a woman’, based on his remarks referring to Abodo, ignited fierce debate. His words – calling her a “vagina from Karamoja” and “a pumpkin for a DPP” – sparked outrage among judicial officials and political figures alike. Private prosecutors Joshua Byamazima and Tonny Tumukunde seized the moment, filing a case that quickly gained traction.

The judiciary’s response was swift and severe, says Nsimenta. ‘Justice Musa Ssekaana’s ruling sentencing Ssemakadde to two years in prison for contempt of court demonstrated a hardening stance. The judgment made clear that criticism had crossed into an unacceptable challenge to judicial authority. The ULS pushed back, condemning the ruling as "one-sided, irregular, and of no legal effect", but the weight of the judiciary remained firm.’ However, Nsimenta says, Ssemakadde’s defiance has not wavered. ‘Yet, the stakes are now higher than ever. The Interpol warrant shifts the dynamics significantly, transforming him from a courtroom combatant into a fugitive from justice. The warrant, if enforced, could see him extradited back to Uganda to face trial, an outcome that could land him in Luzira Prison before any appeal process takes shape, states the Nile Post. 'His options are narrowing. If he remains abroad, he risks becoming a leader in exile, a position that may weaken his influence in Uganda's legal battles. If he returns, he faces immediate incarceration with uncertain prospects for bail. A potential avenue could be negotiation – a possibility hinted at by Chief Justice Owiny-Dollo’s offer to mediate an apology through Karamoja elders. However, given Ssemakadde’s history, an apology seems unlikely.’ For now, Nsimenta concludes, the battle lines are drawn. ‘Ssemakadde has proven himself a formidable legal strategist, but he has also antagonised some of the most powerful figures in Uganda’s judiciary. Whether he finds a legal loophole to evade arrest, mounts a successful appeal, or faces the full force of the law, this fight is far from over.’