By Ben Musanje
Uganda’s legal and political circles have been thrown into fresh debate after prominent lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde spoke out following the decision by AF Mpanga Advocates to withdraw from representing opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajji Obeid Lutale in a high-profile criminal case before the High Court in Kampala.
Ssemakadde, the exiled President of the Uganda Law Society, described the development on his social media platform as part of a wider pattern of challenges facing lawyers willing to represent Besigye and his co-accused, including Hajj Lutale and Capt. Denis Oola, in the case before the Criminal Division of the High Court.
Through his ‘X’ account, Ssemakadde claimed that several developments had created an increasingly difficult environment for legal practitioners handling matters involving Besigye and Lutale. He cited the deportation of Kenyan Senior lawyer Martha Karua, the imprisonment of former Kampala City Lord Mayor lawyer Erias Lukwago, and the reported exile of lawyer Elon Kiiza as examples of what he described as mounting pressure on the defence team.
“AF Mpanga Advocates also ceased representing Besigye in Court,” Ssemakadde wrote, adding allegations that there was a “silent order” targeting private advocates who accept instructions from Besigye and Lutale. The claims have not been publicly confirmed by government authorities.
The withdrawal by AF Mpanga Advocates was formally communicated through a notice filed before the Criminal Division of the High Court. The notice indicated that the firm had ceased to have effective conduct of the matter from June 11, 2026, unless advised otherwise.
The notice, filed through the Electronic Court Case Management System (ECCMIS), was addressed to the Registrar of the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, other counsel involved in the matter, and the accused persons who are currently facing proceedings.
The case, registered as Criminal Session Case No. 335 of 2025, involves the Republic of Uganda as the prosecution against Besigye, Lutale, and Capt. Denis Oola. The charges and proceedings have attracted significant public attention due to Besigye’s long history as a leading opposition figure and his repeated confrontations with the state.
The latest development places renewed focus on the role of Judge Emmanuel Baguma, who is handling proceedings in the case. Ssemakadde’s remarks have intensified calls from some opposition supporters and legal observers for scrutiny of how the court manages the matter, particularly regarding the rights of the accused to legal representation.
The right to legal representation is a fundamental principle in criminal justice systems, with courts expected to ensure that accused persons have adequate opportunity to prepare and present their defence.
AF Mpanga Advocates, one of Uganda’s leading law firms that was founded by Senior Lawyer David F.K Mpanga, the Buganda Kingdom Minister of Lands and Properties, hasn’t publicly given detailed reasons for ending its involvement in the case beyond the formal notice filed in court. The firm’s withdrawal leaves questions over the future composition of Besigye’s defence team as proceedings continue.
The development comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding opposition activities in Uganda, with supporters of Besigye arguing that legal challenges against him are politically motivated, while government authorities have maintained that cases before courts are handled according to the law.
As the case progresses, attention is expected to remain on whether new legal representation will be secured for Besigye and his co-accused, and how the court will address the emerging concerns raised by sections of the legal community. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
