KAMPALA– Uganda Law Society ( ULS) council has issued an Executive order recalling Norah Matovu Winnie and Ruth Sebatindira form Judicial Service Commission (JSC) where they have the organization for a period of two terms.
Isaac Ssemakadde , the Uganda Law Society President at the press briefing held at their headquarters at Acacia Avenue revealed the contents of the Executive Order RNB No. 2 of 2024 recalling unelected ULS representatives at JSC, bolstering internal democracy , commencing radical surgery on the judiciary and halting unfair recruitments.
“Some of our colleagues have chosen comfort a head of duty. This is why some of our colleagues who have chosen to simply find places with in the public part of the law industry and then hold on to keep quiet without doing the job, must be brought to order.”
“Am talking about Mrs. Norah Matovu Winnie, Mrs. Ruth Ssebatindira for the time being. They have sat in that capacity purportedly as nominees of the ULS since 2016, they accepted to be sent to Judicial Service Commission without undergoing through the proper process of an election at the ULS general meeting.” Remarked Ssemakadde
He also asked himself how these two have remained in those positions for two terms (from 2016 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2024) without undergoing any free and fair election as per the ULS constitution.
“Despite of the obvious and mounting crisis on the way law is being conducted in Uganda, circumstances of how the law is being practiced in Uganda, justice being denied to all, our colleagues at JSC have not been able to comment about mismanagement with in the Judiciary which they can be seen with their naked eyes for now close to a decade.”
The law Society council has also wondered how the people who represent the organization have never spared time to consult members as well producing any report concerning their performance at JSC.
“If lawyers don’t follow their own laws, who should obey any rule. Why should even the sun bother to rise in the morning. As we promised to end this culture, am grateful that all council members or unanimously agreed on this order.”
Through the order issued on Tuesday 29th October 2024, that the two above mentioned individuals are no longer regarded as representatives of ULS and any action taken by them will be on a personal basis.
ULS has promised to organize a fair process to have those individuals replaced by December 2024.
A week ago, the current council through its unprecedented move , suspended Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka and Solicitor General of Ugandan government from ULS council, a cussing them of having failed to advise government on proper ways of observing the rule of law and good governance.
