By BM
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) is facing a serious internal crisis as a deeply divided membership clashed during a stormy General Assembly on Saturday ultimately voting to extend the term of the current Governing Council by six months amidst mounting legal, ethical, and political controversy.
At the heart of the turmoil is not just the embattled ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde now in exile and recently sentenced to two years in prison for contempt of court but a broader leadership struggle that has exposed deep ideological rifts within Uganda’s legal profession.
Calls for Immediate Elections Rejected
A faction of lawyers, led by ULS presidential hopeful Counsel Eron Kiiza, pushed for immediate elections to restore what they called “legal and moral clarity” to the Society.
Kiiza argued that the current leadership had lost legitimacy, especially with its president abroad and legally incapacitated.
“The Law Society must reflect the law it claims to defend. We cannot operate in contradiction to our own standards,” Kiiza stated.
But his motion to hold elections within two weeks was overwhelmingly rejected.
A counter-movement, composed largely of senior lawyers and current council allies, successfully lobbied for an extension of the Council’s term winning the vote with 251 members supporting a six-month extension over 85 who backed a three-month compromise.
Tensions Boil Over in Fiery Assembly
The meeting descended into emotional exchanges, with accusations of bribery, political interference, and betrayal of professional values.
Veteran lawyers like Jet Tumwebaze and Robert Rutaro accused some members of being “used” by internal and external forces to destabilize the Society.
“This society gives us our identity,” Tumwebaze declared during his passionate speech. “Why are lawyers being used to destroy what they should be protecting?”
Others warned against personal vendettas and urged unity, even amid sharp disagreement.
Counsel Alex Luganda insisted that temporary conflict should not trigger institutional collapse: “Every election cycle brings disagreement. But we manage them; we don’t burn down the house.”
Institutional Reputation at Stake
While the extension was passed democratically, several members cautioned that the ULS risks becoming a “laughing stock” if it cannot resolve its disputes internally and in line with its own constitution.
With the leadership now extended until March 2026, attention shifts to the Electoral Commission, which was directed to organize general elections and fill vacant positions, including ULS representatives to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Elections for the JSC are now slated to take place within one month, following unanimous approval by the Assembly.
A Deeper Crisis of Leadership Culture
More than a debate over dates or names, this weekend’s assembly laid bare a deeper crisis within the ULS: one about direction, credibility, and the soul of legal professionalism in Uganda.
Behind the procedural motions and angry speeches lies a fundamental question, what kind of leadership does the Uganda Law Society want to project in a time of national constitutional uncertainty, political repression, and internal discord?
As one lawyer put it off-mic:
“This is no longer about Ssemakadde. This is about whether we are a society led by fear, ego, or law.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
