Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a sweeping Executive Order establishing a new Judiciary Affairs Committee tasked with spearheading a “radical surgery” of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), over what it cited as persistent institutional failure, corruption, and public mistrust.
The Executive Order RNB No. 5 of 2025, signed by ULS Vice President Asiimwe Anthony on Thursday, May 29, 2025, invokes Sections 10 and 11 of the Uganda Law Society Act to operationalize urgent reforms outlined in earlier directives.
The new order, which takes effect immediately, marks a critical escalation in the Radical New Bar (RNB) movement’s bid to restore integrity and accountability within Chapter Eight institutions of Uganda’s Constitution.
The Radical New Bar particularly indicated that the Judiciary and JSC are “grappling with a profound crisis” and have become breeding grounds for “systemic inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and undue political influence.”
Despite previous efforts under Executive Order RNB No. 2 of 2024, including recalling unelected ULS representatives and conducting democratic elections for JSC nominees, corruption, incompetence, and repugnancy have persisted, necessitating the passing of a new Executive Order and the formation of a Judiciary Affairs Committee to direct these reforms.
“The purpose of this Executive Order is to establish a Radical New Bar Committee to implement Sections III and IV of Executive Order RNB No 2 of 2024, focusing on radical surgery of the Judiciary and Judicial Service Commission, and halting unfair judicial recruitments respectively,” reads in part the Order.
Speaking shortly after taking oath as Chairperson of the newly formed Judiciary Affairs Committee, Senior Advocate Denis Kusaasira delivered a scathing critique of the status quo: “The Judicial Service Act is meant to empower us as representatives of the Uganda Law Society, to play the role envisioned for us under the Constitution. However, after a thorough examination, I came to the conclusion that the Act, in its current form, does not.”
The Committee, composed of five senior legal professionals appointed for a five-year renewable term, is headed by Mr Kusaasira as the Chairperson, alongside four other members: Richard Omongole, Robinah Kyamuhangire, Andrew Mumpenje, and Enen Ambrose
Their mandate, according to the order, includes implementing deep reforms, halting unfair judicial recruitments, and investigating widespread allegations of corruption, nepotism, and maladministration within Chapter Eight institutions of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the ULS decried what it described as perpetuating “a culture of impunity, mediocrity, and incompetence” while calling out the “chronic underfunding and overload” of the Legal Aid Project, which was designed to support marginalized groups.
Past RNB Executive Orders
The Judiciary Affairs Committee builds on a string of transformative directives issued by the Radical New Bar leadership since 2024, which among others include;
A). Executive Order RNB No. 1 of 2024: Which expelled the Attorney General and Solicitor General, and their representatives from the Uganda Law Society Council, deeming their positions as ‘colonial hangover’.
B). Executive Order RNB No. 2 of 2024: Recalled unelected ULS Representatives and commenced the radical surgery of the judiciary and its unfair recruitments.
C). Executive Order RNB No. 3 of 2025: Withdrew the ULS Award of Excellence previously granted to Justice Musa Ssekaana and urged Bar members to boycott him further.
D). Executive Order RNB No. 4 of 2025: Established a Radical New Bar Committee to disrupt the 8th Annual Law Conference with a groundbreaking two-day festival that will further the objectives of RNB Vision 2060 through digital transformation.
With this latest order, the Radical New Bar now reaffirms its constitutional mandate in judicial oversight and professional leadership, even as it challenges Parliament and the Executive to review outdated statutes like the Judicial Service Act.
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