Now under public scrutiny, one of the candidates vying for Uganda Law Society (ULS) presidency Isaac Ssemakadde is getting the brunt of old receipts resurfacing – not for a good push towards the coveted post.
Ssemakadde, a self-proclaimed ‘legal rebel’ is running against Kenneth Kipaalu and Isaac Atukunda, all established legal practitioners.
Picking from the ULS presidential debate held at Makerere University on September 16th, Ssemakadde vehemently condemned the lack of rule of law in Uganda and a legal system that has lost its independence thanks to leaders appointed to positions to serve interests of the ruling government.
He vowed to decolonize, demilitarize and democratize the law sector as well as clean up the Law Development Center (LDC).
This debate has since received mixed reaction from various observers, a section of whom, say Ssemakadde doesn’t have the moral authority to admonish other legal practitioners.
This particular sentiment was sparked by the Ssemakadde’s recent attack on the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka which observers say is for clout.
During his tenure as president of Makerere Law Society from 2012 to 2013, Ssemakadde seems to have ruffled a few feathers, his reported “self-centeredness” as a leader not helping the situation.
Speaking to some stakeholders about Ssemakadde’s vision and mandate as ULS president, many bluntly expressed dissatisfaction in his leadership style, an individual who has worked under him referring to him as a “manipulative attention seeker.”
Some young lawyers who have worked directly under him at his office found at Teachers House in Kampala describe him as an “arrogant, belligerent, and a bully with a self-sense of entitlement.”
Ssemakadde’s former classmate at Makerere University School of Law who preferred anonymity described the former’s leadership at MLS as “one-man rule”.
“If this is the same person who now wants to lead ULS then I will take a break from that organization’s affairs until his term ends, that is if he gets elected. Simply put, he is a dictator who doesn’t entertain others’ views,” says Ssemakadde’s former classmate.
This source also highlighted an incident involving a disgruntled funder – Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) over a dissatisfying accountability of funds following an annual law conference organized by Ssemakadde with support from the German non-profit organization.
According to our source, the incident tarnished the credibility of Makerere University School of Law as one of the faculties that were being supported by a major democracy governance funder.
“Nevertheless, the then influential dean of Makerere University School of Law, Prof. Sylvia Tamale, managed to convince the funders to let things go and somehow they cooled down.”
This publication has also managed to talk to one of the senior lawyers who served on the same MLS Cabinet with Ssemakadde but preferred not to be on record.
He said “generally there were administrative challenges (during Ssemakadde tenure) but council sat and resolved them”.
He did not specify the exact challenges.
When pressed about the allegations of donors being not satisfied with the accountability report that had been submitted, this senior lawyer said the issue revolved around ‘unutilized funds’ but was resolved.
“Like I said there were some unutilized funds due to administrative challenges. But the council sat and it was resolved,” he clarified.
While this section of observers have their reservations about his leadership, Ssemakadde has built a worthwhile career against various odds and it remains to be seen whether the ‘legal rebel’ triumphs in the forthcoming elections.
About other Contestants
Kenneth Kipaalu
Kipaalu served as a research officer at the Supreme Court of Uganda between March 2016 and May 2019. He is currently an Associate Partner and Practice Head, Dispute Resolution at KTA Advocates.
Kipaalu is also a representative of the ULS to the Law Council Committee on Legal Education and Training, a position he has held since August 2022.
He has previously served as chairperson of the Young Lawyers Committee of the Uganda Law Society. While pursuing his Law degree, he was elected President, the Makerere Law Society, a position he held from 2012 to 2013.
The LLM candidate at the Liverpool John Moores University holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre and a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University.
Isaac Atukunda
Atukunda has been the managing partner at Credo Advocates since 2016. He is the current Honorary Secretary of ULS, a position he has held since 2022 and he also doubles as the chairperson of the Publications Committee.
Atukunda also serves as chairperson of the Uganda Law Society Members First Newsletter Committee 2022 and he was also the chairperson of the just concluded ULS 7th Annual Law Conference Organising Committee 2024.
He completed his Bachelor of Laws from Kampala International University (KIU) where he also worked as a teaching assistant from 2007 to 2013.
He has also been a member of the North Kigezi Diocese Synod since 2020.
