By Our Reporters
A number of City lawyers have come out to show interest in replacing Francis Gimara whose term as Uganda Law Society (ULS) President ends later this month. ULS is created by law and is mandated to advise government on legal matters. It also unites lawyers to promote matters of common interest. It’s also a peer review mechanism under which erratic lawyers can be called to order and subjected to scrutiny by their professional colleagues. Gimara, who replaced Ruth Sebatindira, has been at the ULS helm for two terms and is ineligible for re-election. Those contending for the top job include Alice Namuli who works with prominent law firm Katende Sempebwa & Co Advocates.
She has also been Gimara’s Vice President and her supporters say she wants to increase the participation and visibility of women and younger lawyers in Law Society activities. She stands a chance because she hasn’t been very outspoken on politically controversial matters if what one senior city lawyer told us is anything to go by. “We don’t want politics in the Law Society. We want somebody strong in defending the rule of law and neutral and can’t be politically defined,” the senior lawyer said preferring anonymity. “That is the reason why Nicolas Opio previously failed to get votes. People saw him to be too politically defined and they preferred Sebatindira who was perceived to be politically neutral.” Apart from Alice Namuli, who declined being interviewed by this news website saying it was too early, there are other lawyers eyeing the seat. These include Eric Lukolongo, Simon Kinobe and others that are yet to declare their ambition. Nominations are expected in two weeks’ time and polling is early April.
Lawyers expressed mixed reactions regarding the performance of outgoing Francis Gimara. Whereas top Kampala lawyer Hassan Kamba praised him for passionately fighting corruption both at the bar and the bench, one female lawyer who didn’t want to be named had no kind words for the deeply spiritual advocate from Acholi. “He hasn’t done anything compared to his predecessor Ruth Sebatindira. We even regret ever electing him ULS President. He has been a poor administrator and output was zero despite his outspokenness on social media. Just go to ULS Secretariat and asked the staff members. He has been mistreating them because he is too harsh and abuses them. When his car pulls up everybody becomes scared. People begin shivering and that killed what otherwise would have been a good reign,” said the youthful female lawyer who, like Gimara, hails from Northern region.
“He has made the Law Society very dormant and personalized things a lot. I was unhappy the Law Society’s voice was absent on the murder of Suzan Magara,” ranted another female lawyer who got angry when asked how Magara’s death becomes a ULS matter. “My friend don’t even call me again because it seems you are biased. Me I have told you my view he should have spoken out on that Magara issue and he didn’t and doesn’t take advice from technical people at the secretariat. Gimara let us down as he didn’t understand what it means for the Law Society to be the 6th estate. Ruth Sebatindira was a people person which Gimara hasn’t been. Just go ask his staff at the ULS offices. That is my view on him. You too can have yours.” For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
