Gadenya noted that while the lawyers Joshua Byamazima and Tumukunde raised important points about the potential hindrance to their legal rights and the judicial process, these concerns are primarily about the implications of delays and the judicial system's efficiency. However, the more pressing issue is the protection of individual rights, especially when those rights may be jeopardised.
Addressing journalists at their Secretariat in Kololo, the Vice President of the Uganda Law Society Anthony Asiimwe, said the Judiciary must adopt a democratic and inclusive approach to internal management and bar-bench relations to maintain legitimacy.
Ssemakadde is being jailed following his statements on social media and letters criticizing the decision by Ssekaana to block the Extra Ordinary Annual General Meeting for lawyers where they were supposed to elect new representatives of the lawyers to the Judicial Service Commission, after saying Norah Matovu Winyi and Ruth Sebatindira were there illegally.
According to the ULS, the Chief Justice’s demands were a clear attempt to “weaponize the judiciary” to harass, intimidate, and silence Senior Counsel Isaac Ssemakadde, the head of the bar.
In one case, lawyers including Tony Tumukunde and Joshua Byamazima are challenging Ssemakadde's Executive Order Number One, which dismissed the Attorney General and Solicitor General's representatives from the Uganda Law Society Council.
Kayizzi found that the evidence in the complaint and affidavit established a prima facie case against Ssemakadde. He also stated that the admissibility of the flash disc containing the alleged utterances would be determined at trial.
Ssemakadde revealed plans for a nationwide campaign to expose judicial corruption and misconduct. He said the campaign would utilize traditional and social media platforms, protests, and boycotts to raise awareness and demand accountability.
the complainants told the Court to first determine their complaint issued on oath and issue criminal summons against Ssemakadde requiring him to appear and be formally charged.
Rutaro on Wednesday through his lawyers of MC Ford Advocates withdrew the charges in a notice submitted before the Court saying that it was not in bad faith but for the peace of the lawyers' professional body.
Lawyer Nalukoola Luyimbazi a member of the bar said if the Attorney General feels that he has interest in this matter, let him appear in court in person instead of sending what he described as his agents.
The ULS statement further described the expulsion as "a bold and necessary step to restore public faith in the legal profession and to protect the independence of the Uganda Law Society." It also highlighted the society’s duty to "act decisively to safeguard the influence of the legal profession and to restore public confidence in the justice system."
