Ssemakadde should not involve the Uganda Law Society in his asylum-seeking theatrics – lawyer Tumukunde

The Uganda Law Society (ULS)’s self-exiled President Isaac Ssemakadde issued the Executive Order RNB No. 6 of 2025, in which he announced ULS’ departure from the tradition of political neutrality and officially endorsed presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP).

He also endorses the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF)’s Erias Lukwago as the Lord Mayoral candidate for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Dr. Ekwaro Ebuku for Member of Parliament, Oyam South Constituency.

In this interview, lawyer Tonny Tumukunde (TT) discusses the implications of ULS’ new direction. 

What is the legality of President Isaac Semakadde’s Executive Order No. 6 of 2025?

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) is nonpartisan, and in the administration of its mandate under the ULS Act, the Society must maintain a neutral stance, mostly in times such as these when the country is boiling.

We serve all Ugandans regardless of their political affiliations.

The ULS president’s impugned orders are not laws, and this has been held so by Justice Ssekana in Hashim Mugisha Hashim v. ULS & Isaac Ssemakadde. These are mere pieces of paper that the wind is blowing to the corridors of courts.

What could have informed the society’s decision to zero in on supporting the NUP and PFF candidates?

[It is the] ego of Isaac Ssemakadde. He is a known opposition fanatic. You can vividly remember him hosting Bobi Wine and Erias Lukwago, who fall on one political divide. But also, Isaac has no respect for the rule of law; if he did, then he would have known that ULS should not be trodden into political bias. He thinks he knows it all. He never takes advice.

What is the fate of ULS members who are not in agreement with the executive order?

Isaac wants to be a demigod over every member. Just wait and see how he will pull his wrath against all those who don’t support this move. Funny enough, people have learnt his style of leadership and now waste no time with him. They are waiting for his illegal tenure to lapse.

ULS has chosen to take on the ruling party and threatened to mobilise resources to cause regime change in Uganda. Does it have what it takes to dismantle the regime?

Don’t ever think that all members are in agreement with Isaac’s impugned decision. This was passed for him to satisfy his demands. His quest for asylum has made him blunder.

He knows his term is coming to an end with no relevance, and so he must fetch it home. Many lawyers still appreciate the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s leadership amidst struggles.

Let him serve the white man’s pie by himself, not throw it into the hands of the innocent many.

Are there any plans to safeguard/redeem the society’s integrity/credibility/image by members who are against the president’s executive order?

The plan is for the sober few to look on and shudder at the majority who still think the man is still for them. The tenure is just two months to end. Let him sail.