Less than a day after Uganda Law Society (ULS) Secretary Phillip Munaabi announced the suspension of Isaac Ssemakadde, the President of the ULS, the president retaliated by suspending Munaabi and another council member.
The ULS Council took swift action on November 24, 2024, after it was revealed that certain members were involved in unauthorized activities that posed a threat to the organization’s integrity. In a virtual meeting convened by ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde, the Council voted to suspend Secretary Munaabi and Central Region Council Member Geoffrey Turyamusiima.
Key members present included Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, Treasurer Arthur Isiko, and regional representatives Eddie Nangulu (Eastern), Samuel Muhumuza (Western), and Emmanuel Egaru (Northern).
The Council condemned the actions of the suspended members, labeling their behavior unlawful and subversive. The suspensions are effective immediately and will remain in place until the general meeting scheduled for December 17, where their removal will be considered.
During this interim period, Eddie Nangulu, the Council Member for Eastern Uganda, has been appointed as the interim secretary.
Ssemakadde emphasized that Nangulu will fill the role of interim secretary until a final decision is made at the general meeting, which will also discuss the potential removal of the suspended members, the election of ULS nominees to the Judicial Service Commission, and the review of delayed financial records.
This latest move comes after Munaabi’s Friday announcement, in which he suspended Ssemakadde over allegations of financial mismanagement. The ULS Council, however, rejected Munaabi’s actions, declaring his documents to be unauthorized and illegal.
Munaabi’s first document, dated November 23, 2024, titled Council Order No. 1 of 2024, claimed to expel Ssemakadde and Vice President Asiimwe. The Council firmly rejected the document, clarifying that it had not been approved by the Council.
The second document, a four-page report dated November 22 titled State of Affairs in Uganda Law Society (ULS), was deemed a misrepresentation of ULS operations. Both documents were attributed to Munaabi and Turyamusiima, who the Council claimed acted without approval.
The Council outlined a series of misconducts by the suspended members, including:
Unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and the misuse of a Council member’s signature.
Intimidation of ULS staff and threats to deny access to Society property and resources.
Attempts to create and distribute false Council records, undermining the integrity of the organization.
Threats of police-enforced sanctions and claims of support from Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka.
Reaffirming its commitment to upholding the integrity of the Society, the ULS Council dismissed attempts to present the organization as dysfunctional. The Council assured members that it remains united, with the official position outlined in the November 24 resolution.
Further actions will be determined by the ULS Constitution, with major decisions to be made at the December 17 meeting.
