By Ben Musanje
In a bold move shaking Kampala’s power circles, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has officially cut all financial ties with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his National Resistance Movement. The announcement came on March 19, 2026, at ULS House in Kololo, revealing growing tension between Uganda’s legal community and the government’s lavish spending on secret projects, donations, and election activities.
In the Executive Order Number 8 of 2026 signed by ULS President Isaac K. Ssemakadde and Treasurer Arthur Isiko, the society rejects a Shs5 billion pledge Museveni made in 2018 to build the ULS House, a promise that was never fulfilled. Meanwhile, State House budgets soared toward Shs1 trillion, with over Shs342 billion spent in secret. The Society called this broken pledge a clear example of the government’s wasteful and irresponsible spending.
The ULS’ Executive Order sharply criticized the government for using public money to maintain power, pointing to voter suppression, election manipulation, and excessive security spending in the 2021 and 2026 elections. “Relying on government money risks weakening the independence of the Bar,” the statement said, warning that dependence could stop lawyers from challenging the government and defending constitutional rights.
Despite the government’s unkept promise, ULS House is almost complete, funded entirely by the voluntary contributions and sacrifices of ULS members. The Society hailed this as a victory of integrity and self-reliance over relying on government handouts. In a dramatic step, all delegates previously sent to request the President’s pledge have been recalled, ending any future pursuit of state funds.
ULS also announced a new focus on financial independence. The Society plans to reform the Advocates Act, the Uganda Law Society Act, and other laws to boost lawyers’ earnings and strengthen the Society. These steps aim to make government support unnecessary and secure the Bar’s autonomy.
Legal experts call this a historic moment for Uganda’s justice system, where ethics, transparency, and independence are becoming central in a political scene long dominated by executive generosity and unchecked spending. The 2026 declaration sends a clear message: the Uganda Law Society will no longer beg for pledges—it will lead on principle. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
