By BM
In a dramatic turn of events, members of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) have voted to censure advocates Philip Munaabi and Geoffrey Turyamusiima over what was described as an attempt to undermine the Society’s democratic processes.
The decision was made during an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) Chaired by the ULS Vice President Anthony Asiimwe on Wednesday (September 17, 2025), at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
The meeting, convened in accordance with Section 16(1) of the Uganda Law Society Act, was prompted by multiple requisitions from members across various regions.
Attendees overwhelmingly supported the censure, with 462 voting in favor, 83 against, and 35 abstaining.
The members also resolved to remove Munaabi and Turyamusiima from the ULS Governing Council.
The controversy stems from a chaotic period within the Society that began in late 2024.
The two lawyers had allegedly attempted to impeach ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde, a move widely condemned by the Council as unlawful and subversive.
On November 24, 2024, following an urgent electronic meeting, the Council suspended both Munaabi and Turyamusiima, pending further action at a general meeting.
That meeting, now concluded, has sealed their fate.
Although there were calls to refer the duo to the Law Council for further disciplinary and criminal action, members rejected the proposal, citing concerns about double jeopardy.
A total of 394 members voted against referral, while 100 supported it and 35 abstained.
Requisitions to initiate the censure process were led by advocates Ssali Babu and Alexander Lule, among others.
These efforts were backed by a broader call for reforms within the Society, as many members expressed dissatisfaction with internal governance, autonomy, and leadership integrity.
The leadership crisis at ULS had escalated after a November 2024 council meeting, chaired by Munaabi, claimed to expel President Ssemakadde and Vice President Anthony Asiimwe.
However, in a swift counteraction, the Council suspended Munaabi and Turyamusiima the following day and appointed Eastern Region representative Eddie Nangulu as Interim Secretary.
The ongoing tensions within ULS have also spilled into the courts.
Earlier this year, ULS appealed a High Court ruling that nullified the suspensions of Munaabi and others, including the disqualification of former ULS President Pheona Wall from seeking a seat on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
The legal saga has become a focal point in debates over ULS’s independence and leadership legitimacy.
At the latest EGM, members also addressed a wide array of other issues, including sanitation in court premises, leadership elections, and the reconstitution of representation to statutory bodies such as the Judicial Service Commission.
Elections for these positions had been stalled following a court order issued in December 2024.
Despite the legal and institutional upheavals, the ULS appears determined to restore order through member-led resolutions and internal democratic processes.
The outcomes of this general meeting may well signal a turning point for the embattled Society.
