ULS Leadership, Court Battles & Institutional Strain
Uganda’s legal fraternity is currently in a state of flux, with high-profile upheavals inside the Uganda Law Society (ULS) and contentious court rulings. Some major developments:
ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde faces multiple legal challenges, including accusations of contempt of court, insulting the modesty of the DPP, and internal disputes over Council dismissals.
The High Court has declared key ULS Council decisions unlawful, voiding suspensions and expulsions of certain officers, and overturning decisions made without due process.
After his conviction for contempt and a two-year sentence, Ssemakadde’s presidency was deemed vacated under ULS law — yet he fled before the ruling and remains at large, complicating institutional governance.
Ironically, in September 2025, ULS members voted to extend Ssemakadde’s term by six months to stabilize the society while elections are reorganized — even as the legal status of his office remains contested.
These internal battles reflect deeper tensions about accountability, legitimacy, and authority within the legal profession — especially when rules, reputation, and disciplinary norms collide.
What It All Means for Uganda — Risks, Opportunities & Strategic Imperatives
Sector Implication What Uganda Must Do
Energy & Infrastructure Disputes over public utility contracts are growing more complex and international in nature Ensure negotiation teams are arbitration‑savvy; build domestic legal capacity for cross-border claims
Judiciary & Courts are overburdened.
Legal Profession / Institutions Institutional crises (e.g., in ULS) erode public trust Strengthen internal accountability, reform legal society bylaws, ensure transparent elections
Perception & Investment International claims and domestic strife are watched by investors. Demonstrate legal predictability, clarity, and governance stability
If Uganda is to position itself as a hub for regional commerce and arbitration, the stakes are high. Decisions in the next months — on how the Umeme arbitration plays out,, and how the law society resolves its internal crisis — will influence not just legal outcomes but investor confidence across East Africa.
