In Summary: The Uganda Law Society has directed its members to boycott a planned thanksgiving ceremony for Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija scheduled for November 21 in Rukungiri, accusing the Judiciary’s leadership of failing to defend judicial independence and address concerns over justice delivery. In response, Chief Justice Zeija has dismissed the directive, arguing that the current ULS leadership’s tenure expired in August and that attendance at the function remains a matter of personal choice.
Kampala, Uganda — The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has ordered lawyers across the country to boycott a planned thanksgiving ceremony for Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija in Rukungiri District, escalating its confrontation with the Judiciary’s leadership over judicial independence, accountability and the administration of justice.
In Executive Order RNB No. 14 of 2026, issued Monday, November 2, ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde directed members of the legal profession not to attend, speak at, sponsor, advertise or provide any form of support to the ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 21, at Karama Primary School playground in Nyarushanje Sub-county.
The ceremony is intended to celebrate Dr Zeija’s appointment as Chief Justice and his leadership of the Judiciary.
The directive, issued through the Society’s Radical New Bar (RNB) Governing Council, called on law firms, legal chambers, and professional associations to issue internal instructions to ensure members comply.
Ssemakadde says the boycott is in furtherance of Executive Order RNB No. 7 of 2026, issued on February 14, which declared Dr Zeija a “Global Judicial Pariah” over concerns about his leadership and the state of judicial independence in Uganda.
In the directive, the ULS Chief argued that the planned celebration risks giving legitimacy to what the Society describes as judicial capture, while diverting attention and resources from pressing challenges affecting the justice system.
Ssemakadde accuses the Chief Justice of failing to publicly defend judicial independence following President Yoweri Museveni’s July 4, 2026 address, in which the President reportedly criticised the judicial system and suggested that security forces could assume certain judicial functions to address perceived gaps.
The Society also questions Dr Zeija’s silence following the October 28, 2026 visit by Judicial Service Commission Chairperson Dr Douglas Singiza Karekonya to the headquarters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), where the commission chairperson reportedly endorsed the candidature of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
According to the ULS, the Chief Justice should have publicly clarified the Judiciary’s position on the matter, given the importance of maintaining institutional independence and public confidence.
The Society further accuses the Judiciary’s leadership of failing to address concerns raised by the Bar over Administrative Circular No. 1 of 2026, particularly the transition to paperless courts and reported operational problems involving the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).
Other concerns raised include the alleged misuse of mobile-court arrangements to establish a court at Ggaba for executive convenience, the lack of meaningful reconciliation between the Bar and Bench, and inadequate inspection of the Constitutional Court, High Court and other superior courts.
The ULS also criticises what it describes as continued administrative interference in judicial processes.
ULS questions timing of ceremony amid detention concerns
The Society has particularly questioned the decision to hold the ceremony in Rukungiri, the home district of both Chief Justice Zeija and several individuals whose detention and access to justice have attracted public attention.
Among those cited in the directive are former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and former Rukungiri Municipality parliamentary aspirant Sam Mugumya.
The ULS argues that celebrating the head of the Judiciary in the same district where citizens face prolonged detention, disputed bail decisions and unresolved claims concerning their liberty creates a contradiction that should concern the legal profession and the public.
“To feast and sing Tukutendereza Yesu while fellow citizens from the same soil remain in prolonged detention or unexplained custody is to reduce faith and community to performance,” Ssemakadde states in the directive.
The Society also raises concerns about the use of public resources, including official transport and the working time of judges, registrars and other judicial officers, in organising and attending the function. It argues that such resources could instead be directed towards addressing case backlogs, improving court infrastructure, strengthening legal aid and expanding access to justice.
The ULS further warns that the involvement of political figures and local government leaders in judicial celebrations could create perceptions of partisan alignment between the Judiciary and the Executive.
It also questions the transparency surrounding the financing of the event, arguing that large public gatherings involving judicial officers could create opportunities for lobbying, gift-giving and improper influence.
Chief Justice dismisses boycott directive
However, Chief Justice Zeija has dismissed the ULS boycott directive, questioning the authority of the current Society leadership to issue such instructions.
In remarks quoted by Daily Monitor on November 3, Dr Zeija said the ULS leadership’s tenure had expired in August 2026, arguing that its president therefore lacked the authority to issue the directive.
“By the way, the Uganda Law Society’s tenure in office expired in August. It is a two-year term, and it has since expired, so that should not be an issue. Their tenure in office expired, meaning he has no power,” Dr Zeija was quoted as saying.
The Chief Justice maintained that attendance at his thanksgiving ceremony was voluntary and that lawyers were free to decide whether to participate. “It is their choice whether to attend or not. Besides, it is a matter of choice. I have invited many lawyers who are my friends, and they will attend. If others do not attend, that is also their choice,” he said.
He compared the function to a family event, saying not everyone invited was necessarily expected to attend.
Letter-writing campaign launched
Beyond the boycott, the ULS has authorised a nationwide letter-writing campaign calling on lawyers, advocates of the rule of law and concerned citizens to publicly question the planned ceremony and demand accountability from the Judiciary’s leadership.
The campaign is intended to generate formal communications and open letters addressed to the ceremony’s organisers, local government authorities, religious and community leaders in Rukungiri, the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, Principal Judge and Judicial Service Commission.
Ssemakadde has also identified the Speaker of Parliament, relevant parliamentary committees, diplomatic missions, regional and international bar associations, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights as intended recipients. He says the correspondence will be archived in what it calls the ongoing Zeija Accountability Dossier.
Dr Flavian Zeija was appointed Chief Justice in January 2026, succeeding Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, who retired after reaching the constitutional retirement age. Before his appointment, Dr Zeija served as Deputy Chief Justice and Principal Judge.
At his swearing-in, President Museveni spoke about cooperation between the Executive and Judiciary, while Dr Zeija outlined priorities including reducing case delays, strengthening alternative dispute resolution, automating court processes and improving accountability within the Judiciary.
The current dispute follows earlier tensions between the ULS and Judiciary leadership, including disagreements over the Society’s participation in official judicial events and concerns about the relationship between the Bar and Bench.
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