President of the Uganda Law Society, Isaac Ssemakadde has been sentenced to two years in jail for contempt of court, alleging insults to judicial officials.
A Ugandan High Court on Friday condemned Ssemakadde for making “derogatory and scandalous” comments against the judiciary on social media, which is a lesser offense.
The guilty law practitioner and president of the country’s legal organization was accused of disrespecting judicial officials in online comments. Justice Musa Ssekaana thereby proclaimed the ULS president guilty of the charge made against him in his verdict, warning that such behavior cannot be tolerated.
Justice Ssekaana noted that it was unacceptable for a person who served as president of a legal society and also knowledgeable in legal matters to do such a thing.
The Justice added that while citizens have the right to criticize their Judiciary, personal attacks, and misinformation judicial officers undermine the justice system. He also emphasized that statements like those made by the accused are extremely inappropriate and dangerous to the rule of law.
Justice Ssekaana therefore called on citizens to engage in constructive criticism rather than personal attacks on the courts, which will be interpreted as derogatory.
He further referenced the ruling as a clear warning against future attacks on any judicial authorities.
Recall that in December 2024, Hashim Mugisha filed a lawsuit against Ssemakadde for alleged judicial bias and attack on Justice Ssekaana. Ssemakadde reportedly accused the Justice of sexual harassment through a series of posts on social media between 11 and 22 December.
Mugisha requested a court order directing Ssemakadde to stop his publications, be arrested, detained in civil prison, and pay a UGX 300 million fine.
The ruling was delivered without a response from Ssemakadde, whom the judge noted had declined to file a defense. It followed warnings from Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo who recently vowed actions against the ULS president if he did not cease attacks on judges and issue an apology.
