By Ben Musanje
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lino Anguzu, to discontinue criminal proceedings against a young lawyer accused of practising law without formal enrollment, arguing that he is a victim of longstanding administrative delays rather than a criminal offender.
In an open letter dated August 6, 2026, ULS President Isaac K. Ssemakadde, SC, urged the DPP to enter a nolle prosequi in Buganda Road Criminal Case No. 896 of 2026, in which Andrew Jenkins Nsubuga Ssekibaamu faces two charges under the Advocates Act for allegedly practising as an advocate while unqualified and holding himself out as a qualified advocate.
Nsubuga, 28, is a graduate of Nkumba University School of Law and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre (LDC). According to the ULS, he is among applicants already approved by the Law Council for a certificate of eligibility but remains unable to complete formal enrollment because of administrative bottlenecks.
The lawyer was arraigned before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where he applied for bail but was remanded to Luzira Prison until August 18.
The Law Society argues that the prosecution highlights broader systemic failures in Uganda’s legal profession. Ssemakadde said prolonged delays at the Law Development Centre and the Law Council have prevented thousands of otherwise qualified graduates from being enrolled as advocates within a reasonable period, despite completing the required academic and professional training.
According to the letter, the Judiciary’s 2025 Client Charter commits to processing advocates’ licences within seven working days. However, the ULS claims the process routinely takes between three and four months, exposing many aspiring advocates to potential criminal liability.
The Society further contends that more than 5,000 law graduates from 20 accredited universities are currently awaiting enrollment due to bureaucratic delays. While acknowledging that the Law Council has increased admissions since September 2024 to approximately 300 new advocates per quarter, the ULS says the backlog remains significant.
Ssemakadde argued that prosecuting applicants affected by administrative delays amounts to punishing individuals for failures within government institutions. He described Nsubuga as a young lawyer and human rights defender who should not be treated as a criminal because of circumstances beyond his control.
“The continued criminalization of young lawyers already victimised by the LDC monopoly and Law Council indifference is unnecessary, unjust and counterproductive,” the letter states, adding that a “humane and parental approach” is needed.
The ULS also argued that pursuing the case undermines ongoing efforts to reform the enrollment process and is inconsistent with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ public-interest test under its Decision to Charge Guidelines.
The Society has asked the DPP to withdraw all charges against Nsubuga in the public interest and to reconsider the prosecution of other similarly affected applicants until the enrollment system is reformed.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had not publicly responded to the Law Society’s request by the time of publication. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
