“Come Rain, Come Sunshine,  I Will Never Bow Down For Alfonse & Musa Ssekaana” Ssemakadde Breaks His Silence

Exiled Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has remained unapologetic over his controversial remarks and legal troubles, despite facing a two-year prison sentence for contempt of court.

In an eight-hour online interview on Saturday, hosted by activist Shallon Kihembo, Ssemakadde addressed a wide range of issues, making it clear that he has no regrets about his outspoken stance against the Ugandan judiciary.

Defiance Against the Judiciary and Media

During the interview, Ssemakadde criticized mainstream media, saying he deliberately avoids TV appearances. He singled out NBS journalist Simon Njala Kaggwa, whom he accused of being an agent of the deep state and holding a personal vendetta against him. He warned Njala to stop attacking him simply because he declined to appear on his show.

Ssemakadde also rejected the legitimacy of his conviction by Justice Musa Ssekaana, arguing that contempt of court laws have become tools for judicial officers to silence critics. He described Uganda’s judiciary as a system that primarily serves the rich and politically connected, while ordinary citizens are left to suffer in overcrowded prisons.

“The prisons are full of poor people who are innocent, and the judiciary is complicit. We now have a syndicate where judges connive with the powerful to suppress the weak,” he stated.

Mao’s Call for Mediation and Reconciliation

Justice Minister Norbert Mao has proposed mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to ease tensions between the ULS and the judiciary, particularly between Ssemakadde and Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo. Speaking at the Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity (UCLF) AGM, Mao urged both sides to find common ground, warning that the ongoing legal battle benefits no one.

“A fight between the judiciary and the legal fraternity can only produce two losers. It will only hurt access to justice for ordinary Ugandans,” Mao argued.

He suggested that respected legal figures, including Prof. Fredrick Ssempebwa, could help broker peace between Ssemakadde and judicial leaders like Owiny-Dollo and Ssekaana. He even humorously proposed that former UCLF President Ann Muhairwe write an article titled “I Love Isaac Ssemakadde” to soften tensions.

However, Ssemakadde dismissed any reconciliation efforts that would require him to silence his criticisms of judicial officers. He insisted that his right to “insult and annoy” public officials is protected under Article 29 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech.

“No one should ever ask me to stop criticizing judges. If you hold public office, you must be thick-skinned enough to accept criticism,” he declared.

Criticism of Senior Lawyers and Refusal to Engage in Mediation

Ssemakadde also attacked several senior lawyers, including Prof. Anthony Kakooza and Frank Kanduho, accusing them of being too cowardly to challenge the judicial system. His strongest criticism, however, was directed at Prof. Fredrick Ssempebwa, whom he described in harsh and uncharitable terms, accusing him of betraying young lawyers and siding with the establishment.

His resentment towards Ssempebwa made it clear that he would not participate in any Mao-led mediation where Ssempebwa plays a role. He dismissed him as a dishonest figure who has chosen self-preservation over justice.

Ssemakadde’s Vision: A People-Powered Legal Revolution

Despite his legal troubles, Ssemakadde remains determined to mobilize ordinary Ugandans in what he calls a legal revolution. He believes that public pressure will force the judiciary and legal community to start working in the interests of ordinary citizens rather than the elite and politically connected.

“I will not stop speaking out. Advocates must take a stand, because we are all in a sinking boat. If we stay silent, nothing will change,” he asserted.

He also emphasized that his radical leadership style as ULS President has given him a platform to voice issues that many lawyers are afraid to address due to fear of retaliation from the judiciary.

Ssemakadde ended his interview with a bold declaration: he would rather live one day standing than spend 100 years on his knees. His defiant stance suggests that the standoff between him and Uganda’s judiciary is far from over.