Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Law Society has issued a sweeping executive order terminating all financial engagements with President Yoweri Museveni, rejecting a long-standing Shs5 billion pledge and declaring a new era of institutional independence.
In the Executive Order No. 8 of 2026, signed by ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde, the legal body declared an immediate end to what it described as “begging relations” with the Head of State and the ruling National Resistance Movement.
“All forms of engagement, solicitation, or negotiation for financial or material support from the President… are hereby terminated with immediate effect.”
The directive further states that any previous mandates authorising ULS officials to pursue the pledge are revoked, effectively closing the chapter on what the Society described as a prolonged and unproductive engagement.
The now-rejected pledge dates back to 2018, when President Museveni committed Shs5 billion towards the construction of the Uganda Law Society House in Kololo.
The pledge was initially welcomed as a major boost to the legal fraternity’s infrastructure ambitions, but its prolonged non-fulfilment became a source of frustration within the lawyers body, with leaders increasingly questioning the implications of relying on political commitments.
In the Thursday executive order, Ssemakadde described the pledge as both unfulfilled and inconsistent with its values. “The ULS shall no longer pursue, acknowledge, or rely upon the unfulfilled 2018 pledge or any similar inducements that could imperil the Bar’s independence,” he said.
According to Radical New Bar President, the aforementioned Shs 5 billion pledge is hereby denounced as a hollow gesture, emblematic of a broader pattern of governmental profligacy and unaccountability. “This denunciation serves to reaffirm the ULS’s commitment to fiscal probity and to highlight the disparity between unkept promises to civil institutions and the unchecked expansion of State House expenditures on donations and classified items,” he emphasized.
‘Begging relations’ and institutional independence
In one of its strongest positions yet, ULS condemned what it termed “begging relations” with the Executive, arguing that such financial dependence undermines its constitutional role. “The Uganda Law Society shall no longer engage in what has become a cycle of ‘begging’ from the Executive,” the order reads.
The Society insists that maintaining financial independence is essential for lawyers to effectively defend the rule of law, hold power accountable, and operate without undue influence. “This independence is essential for upholding the rule of law, advocating for justice, and holding power accountable, particularly in the face of electoral irregularities and fiscal excesses as witnessed in recent years,” the order states.
Ssemakadde argues that failure to honour institutional commitments while public spending expands elsewhere reflects misplaced priorities and weak accountability.
Despite the stalled pledge, Ssemakadde says construction of ULS House has progressed significantly through member contributions and internal resource mobilisation. “The near completion of ULS House… stands as testament to the resilience and self-reliance of the legal profession,” he wrote.
The Society framed this achievement (of ULS House) as proof that it can operate sustainably without reliance on political goodwill. “This milestone sets a precedent for self-sufficiency and ethical conduct within the profession, inspiring future generations of lawyers to prioritize integrity over dependency.”
Sseamakadde says the ULS will now focus on strengthening internal revenue systems and pushing for legal reforms to secure the profession’s financial future.
Below is the full EXECUTIVE ORDER RNB NO. 8 OF 2026
DailyExpress understands that the directive took immediate effect and will remain in force unless amended or rescinded.
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