Kampala, Uganda: Uganda Law Society (ULS) President, Senior Counsel Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde, has petitioned the Judiciary demanding a judge recusal over what he terms “judicial inertia” in the prolonged handling of a civil case he filed against Mugishu Hashim Mugisha.
In a strongly worded letter dated June 20, 2025, addressed to Acting Principal Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga, Ssemakadde called for the urgent transfer of his case from Justice Joyce Kavuma to another judicial officer, citing repeated adjournments, perceived bias, and disregard for his earlier recusal requests.
“These adjournments have not only delayed justice but significantly disrupted my ability to perform my official duties as President of the Uganda Law Society,” Ssemakadde wrote.
The case, which was filed on February 20, 2025, has been adjourned several times, with the latest postponement pushing the hearing to August 19, nearly six months after the initial filing.
The Radical New Bar Chief, who now lives in self-imposed exile, argues that the delays have compounded emotional, reputational, and professional harm.
Ssemakadde further decried the judiciary’s failure to address his plea for recusal of the presiding judge, stating it has led to “irreparable harm” to his livelihood, family life, and leadership responsibilities. “I have missed crucial business engagements, the funerals of loved ones, and personal family milestones, including the birth of my daughter and my son’s high school commencement,” he noted.
Citing constitutional protections under Articles 28(1), 31(4), and 38, Ssemakadde emphasized the right to a fair and speedy hearing, family dignity, and effective civic participation.
“An adjournment to August will be too late. The toll on my office and personal obligations will be irreversible,” he warned, describing the process as a breach of fundamental rights and a threat to judicial credibility.
The ULS President requested that the Acting Principal Judge either handle the matter herself or assign it to a different judicial officer, ideally outside the Civil Division, to ensure impartial and timely adjudication.
The Bar President’s complaint has been formally endorsed by the Uganda Law Society, which described the delays as a litmus test for the judiciary’s commitment to access to justice in human rights-related matters.
The Judiciary had not issued an official response to the petition at the time this story was compiled and published on Tuesday morning.
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