The Uganda Law Society wants to overturn a High Court ruling. The court had canceled ULS actions against Philip Munaabi and Pheona Nabaasa Wall. ULS had suspended Munaabi and stopped Wall from seeking a position on the Judicial Service Commission.
The controversy began at a ULS Council meeting on November 23, 2024. Munaabi ran that meeting and removed ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde and Vice President Anthony Asiimwe. He claimed they acted improperly. The following day, ULS leaders suspended Munaabi and Geoffrey Turyamusiima for attempting to push out Ssemakadde.
ULS appointed Eddie Nangulu as temporary secretary and planned a special meeting for December 17, 2024. The meeting aimed to select new people for the Judicial Service Commission. Current members will finish serving on January 21, 2025.
On October 29, 2024, President Ssemakadde recalled ULS representatives from the JSC. He claimed Ruth Sebatindira and Norah Matovu Winyi had held these positions against proper rules since 2016. Later, several people, including former ULS President Pheona Nabaasa Wall, wanted these jobs.
ULS rejected Wall and Anthony Conrad Kakooza as candidates. Wall then asked the High Court to review her case. She believed the ULS Elections Committee treated her unfairly. Another lawyer, Hashim Mugisha, also went to court to challenge how ULS removed Munaabi.
Judge Musa Ssekaana made his decisions on February 14, 2025. He ruled that ULS acted illegally when suspending Munaabi. He also found that Munaabi broke the rules when trying to remove President Ssemakadde. The judge stated clearly that the ULS Council lacks the power to suspend any council member.
Judge Ssekaana also addressed Wall's situation. The ULS Elections Committee had claimed Wall lacked the 15 years of experience needed for the JSC position. The JSC oversees hiring and discipline for all judges in Uganda. ULS can name two people to this important commission.
These elections should have happened earlier, but Judge Ssekaana delayed them with a court order. Before any appeals moved forward, the judge issued his final ruling on February 14. ULS lawyer Jude Byamukama stated they have filed appeals against these decisions.
Byamukama explained that earlier appeals became useless after the final ruling came out. He expressed concern that courts often drop cases when they think the issue has already resolved itself. He confirmed filing two new appeals against the February 14 rulings as cases 98 and 99 of 2025.
He emphasized that everyone deserves fair treatment in this dispute. This includes both the ULS Council and Munaabi themselves. They need clear answers about who holds authority in these situations. The court ruled council members cannot suspend colleagues, yet also said the General Assembly lacks such power.
Byamukama believes changing the Uganda Law Society Act offers the only real solution. This law dates from 1956, during colonial times. Many parts seem outdated today. For example, just 15 members can call for a special meeting, despite ULS growing to over 5000 members today.
Another problem involves having the Attorney General and Solicitor General serve on the ULS Council. Last year, Ssemakadde tried removing them through direct action, but Judge Ssekaana ruled this illegal. Byamukama noted how strange it feels to discuss lawsuits against the Attorney General with that same person sitting right there at the meeting.
The controversy began at a ULS Council meeting on November 23, 2024. Munaabi ran that meeting and removed ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde and Vice President Anthony Asiimwe. He claimed they acted improperly. The following day, ULS leaders suspended Munaabi and Geoffrey Turyamusiima for attempting to push out Ssemakadde.
ULS appointed Eddie Nangulu as temporary secretary and planned a special meeting for December 17, 2024. The meeting aimed to select new people for the Judicial Service Commission. Current members will finish serving on January 21, 2025.
On October 29, 2024, President Ssemakadde recalled ULS representatives from the JSC. He claimed Ruth Sebatindira and Norah Matovu Winyi had held these positions against proper rules since 2016. Later, several people, including former ULS President Pheona Nabaasa Wall, wanted these jobs.
ULS rejected Wall and Anthony Conrad Kakooza as candidates. Wall then asked the High Court to review her case. She believed the ULS Elections Committee treated her unfairly. Another lawyer, Hashim Mugisha, also went to court to challenge how ULS removed Munaabi.
Judge Musa Ssekaana made his decisions on February 14, 2025. He ruled that ULS acted illegally when suspending Munaabi. He also found that Munaabi broke the rules when trying to remove President Ssemakadde. The judge stated clearly that the ULS Council lacks the power to suspend any council member.
Judge Ssekaana also addressed Wall's situation. The ULS Elections Committee had claimed Wall lacked the 15 years of experience needed for the JSC position. The JSC oversees hiring and discipline for all judges in Uganda. ULS can name two people to this important commission.
These elections should have happened earlier, but Judge Ssekaana delayed them with a court order. Before any appeals moved forward, the judge issued his final ruling on February 14. ULS lawyer Jude Byamukama stated they have filed appeals against these decisions.
Byamukama explained that earlier appeals became useless after the final ruling came out. He expressed concern that courts often drop cases when they think the issue has already resolved itself. He confirmed filing two new appeals against the February 14 rulings as cases 98 and 99 of 2025.
He emphasized that everyone deserves fair treatment in this dispute. This includes both the ULS Council and Munaabi themselves. They need clear answers about who holds authority in these situations. The court ruled council members cannot suspend colleagues, yet also said the General Assembly lacks such power.
Byamukama believes changing the Uganda Law Society Act offers the only real solution. This law dates from 1956, during colonial times. Many parts seem outdated today. For example, just 15 members can call for a special meeting, despite ULS growing to over 5000 members today.
Another problem involves having the Attorney General and Solicitor General serve on the ULS Council. Last year, Ssemakadde tried removing them through direct action, but Judge Ssekaana ruled this illegal. Byamukama noted how strange it feels to discuss lawsuits against the Attorney General with that same person sitting right there at the meeting.
