Kampala, Uganda: In a historic and explosive shift from tradition, the Uganda Law Society, an umbrella body of lawyers in Uganda, has openly endorsed the National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, for the 2026 Presidency, and opposition candidates, declaring that continued silence in the face of state capture would amount to betrayal of its constitutional mandate..
In an Executive Order signed Sunday December 21, 2025, copy of which DailyExpress has seen, the Society President Isaac K. Ssemakadde said the country had reached a breaking point where “neutrality equates to complicity,” citing what he described as “the excessive militarisation of civilian and political life, the entrenched culture of corruption and impunity, and the total capture of state institutions, including the judiciary, under the Museveni/NRM regime.”
He formally endorsed Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) for President, PFF’s Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and opposition candidates aligned to the National Unity Platform and the People’s Front for Freedom across all levels of government, saying they represent “the foremost credible force for restoring constitutional order, economic justice, youth empowerment, accountable governance, and the independence of institutions.”
Ssemakadde further accused the state institutions, including judiciary and security agencies, of being turned into tools of repression, alleging that “security forces have been weaponised to suppress dissent through abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and the unlawful trial of civilians in military courts,” while the judiciary has been reduced to “a rubber stamp of militarism and political repression rather than an independent pillar of justice.”
Calling for what he termed a “total political reset,” the self-exiled ULS President demanded the demilitarisation of civilian affairs, liberation of captured institutions, and an end to abductions and sham trials, insisting that the 2026 elections present “the moment to reclaim our nation and restore professional dignity.”
“Uganda urgently requires a total political reset: the complete demilitarisation of civilian affairs, the liberation of captured institutions, the end to abductions and sham trials, and the establishment of a government truly accountable to the people under the 1995 Constitution,” he wrote.
Lawyers to Guard the Opposition Vote
In one of the order’s most striking directives, Ssemakadde called on voters, particularly members of the legal profession, to remain within 20 metres of polling stations during voting and counting in order to safeguard the electoral process.
The Executive Order takes immediate effect and will remain in force until the conclusion of the 2026 General Elections or until revoked by lawful authority.
“Vote and remain within the vicinity (20 meters distance) of your polling station to keep a watchful eye throughout the voting and counting of the votes for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of the endorsed candidates.”
Read the full Executive Order below.
A Defining Moment for the Legal Profession
Founded on principles of independence and professional restraint, the Uganda Law Society has historically avoided partisan alignment, but Ssemakadde’s radical decision marks the first time the body has openly taken sides in a national election.
Legal observers say the move fundamentally alters the relationship between the legal profession and the state, raising the political stakes ahead of 2026 and signalling that sections of Uganda’s institutional leadership are no longer willing to remain on the sidelines.
“This is a moment of choice,” the Executive Order declares, adding, “The legal profession will not stand idle while the rule of law is extinguished.”
LEGAL EXPLAINER: Can ULS Legally Endorse Political Candidates?
Under Uganda’s current legal framework, the Uganda Law Society is not expressly prohibited by law from endorsing political candidates, provided such actions do not violate the Constitution, statutory law, or its own governing instruments.
The Uganda Law Society Act grants the Society autonomy to regulate its affairs and to act in defence of the rule of law, constitutionalism, and the independence of the legal profession. While political neutrality has been an established tradition, it is not a statutory requirement.
Legal experts note that ULS’s endorsement could be challenged internally or in court on grounds of ultra vires conduct, misuse of members’ mandate, or breach of associational rights, particularly by members who disagree with the position.
However, unless a court finds that the Executive Order violates the Constitution, electoral laws, or the Society’s Articles, the endorsement remains legally defensible as an exercise of institutional free expression in exceptional circumstances.
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