Uganda’s legal fraternity has been plunged into one of its most dramatic public feuds after Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde publicly severed ties with his longtime associate Elison Karuhanga, accusing him of betraying the legal profession through what he described as “cowardly neutrality” in the face of state repression.
The bitter exchange, played out through lengthy open letters and social media posts, has exposed deep divisions within Uganda’s legal community over the role of the Uganda Law Society in confronting alleged human rights abuses and the increasing militarisation of politics.
What was once viewed as a strategic alliance between two influential lawyers has now collapsed into a bruising war of words, with each accusing the other of undermining the integrity of the legal profession.
Ssemakadde: “I Was Wrong to Associate With Karuhanga”
In an explosive open letter addressed to members of the Radical New Bar (RNB), Ssemakadde admitted that his efforts to build bridges with lawyers perceived to have close ties to the establishment had failed.
“I was wrong to associate with Elison Karuhanga,” Ssemakadde declared.The ULS president revealed that he and Karuhanga last spoke on Boxing Day in 2025 during what he described as a 49-minute telephone conversation.
According to Ssemakadde, Karuhanga informed him that he was under pressure from unnamed individuals to publicly distance himself from the Radical New Bar following Executive Order No. 6 of 2025, which rejected what Ssemakadde termed “performative professional neutrality.”
Ssemakadde said he tried unsuccessfully to convince Karuhanga not to issue a public apology advocating for a politically neutral Uganda Law Society.The outspoken lawyer argued that Uganda’s current political climate leaves no room for neutrality. “There is no neutrality in a militarised state,” he wrote.
He accused Karuhanga of remaining silent after the alleged arrest and military detention of senior lawyer and former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, saying that silence amounted to complicity.
According to Ssemakadde, lawyers have a duty to openly resist what he described as unconstitutional military interference in civilian affairs.
“The Lawyer’s Lawyer Went Silent”
Throughout his letter, Ssemakadde repeatedly referred to Karuhanga as “The Lawyer’s Lawyer,” questioning why someone seeking election to represent advocates on the Judicial Service Commission had allegedly failed to publicly condemn military actions against fellow lawyers.
He accused Karuhanga of speaking loudly on issues of professional neutrality while remaining silent when, according to him, members of the legal fraternity were allegedly under attack.”Selective muteness in the face of tyranny is not neutrality; it is complicity dressed in procedural robes,” Ssemakadde wrote.
He further argued that attempts to cultivate relationships with establishment figures had only weakened the independence of the Bar.”Power in Uganda is not a conversation between equals. It is the gun versus the law,” he stated.
Karuhanga Fires Back
Karuhanga responded with an equally lengthy statement titled “The Bar Belongs to Us All.”
Rejecting Ssemakadde’s accusations, Karuhanga insisted that he had always remained loyal not to individuals but to the Uganda Law Society as an institution.”I have never been a servant of personalities. I have always been a servant of the Bar,” he wrote.
Karuhanga listed every Uganda Law Society president under whom he has served over the years, arguing that he has consistently supported elected leaders regardless of political differences.He said he had defended Ssemakadde’s right to lead the Society even while openly criticising what he called Ssemakadde’s vulgar language and confrontational leadership style.
“I defended neither Isaac Ssemakadde the man nor his excesses. I defended the office he temporarily occupied.”
Institution Above Personality
Karuhanga accused Ssemakadde of transforming the Uganda Law Society into a vehicle for personal political battles.
According to him, the Society’s official communication channels should unite lawyers rather than attack fellow advocates.”The Uganda Law Society belongs to all its members,” he said.
Karuhanga rejected claims that he had remained silent over Lukwago’s arrest, explaining that his legal discussion platforms deliberately suspended their own programming to allow the Uganda Law Society to take the lead as the profession’s official voice.
He argued that institutional leadership should always come before individual activism.
Neutrality or Independence?
At the centre of the dispute lies a fundamental philosophical disagreement.Ssemakadde argues that neutrality is impossible where constitutional violations are alleged to be taking place.
Karuhanga insists the issue is not neutrality but institutional independence.”I never argued that the Uganda Law Society should be neutral towards injustice,” Karuhanga wrote.
“I argued that it should remain institutionally and politically independent.”He warned that once the Bar openly aligns itself with political causes, it risks losing its ability to represent all lawyers equally.
According to him, the Society must remain capable of criticising government, opposition politicians, judges, Parliament and even its own members whenever legal principles require.
Personal Attack or Leadership Debate?
Karuhanga also questioned why Ssemakadde had singled him out among the fourteen candidates seeking election to represent advocates on the Judicial Service Commission.”If this was about principle,” he argued, “the challenge would have been addressed to all fourteen candidates.”
Instead, he suggested the open letter reflected personal grievances rather than genuine institutional concerns.He accused Ssemakadde of spending months “building grudges” instead of strengthening the Uganda Law Society.
Karuhanga further challenged Ssemakadde to point to lasting institutional reforms achieved during his tenure. “What permanent protection has he secured for advocates?” he asked.”What institutional reform bears his signature?”
Public Divided
The public reaction has mirrored the growing divisions within Uganda’s legal community.Some lawyers and commentators praised Ssemakadde for openly confronting what they described as growing complacency among senior members of the profession.
Others argued that Karuhanga was correct in insisting that the Uganda Law Society should remain politically independent if it is to survive future constitutional challenges.
Some social media users accused Ssemakadde of allowing personal differences to overshadow institutional priorities, while others applauded him for refusing to compromise on principles.Others questioned why only Karuhanga had been publicly criticised when several other lawyers are also contesting for the Judicial Service Commission seat.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond the personal fallout, the confrontation has reignited debate over the future direction of the Uganda Law Society.
Should the Society evolve into an outspoken defender of political freedoms, as envisioned by Ssemakadde’s Radical New Bar, or should it remain a professionally independent institution capable of engaging all arms of government without political alignment, as advocated by Karuhanga?
That question now sits at the heart of one of the most consequential ideological battles ever witnessed within Uganda’s legal profession.With Judicial Service Commission elections approaching and tensions continuing to rise, the once-close friendship between Isaac Ssemakadde and Elison Karuhanga appears beyond repair.
For now, Uganda’s legal fraternity remains sharply divided—watching as two of its most influential figures battle not only over personal loyalty but also over competing visions of what the Bar should become.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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