A heated exchange erupted at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court as lawyers for Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde clashed with complainants Joshua Byamazima and Tony Tumukunde.
The two lawyers accuse Ssemakadde of insulting the modesty of a woman, specifically the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) justice Jane Frances Abodo.
Ssemakadde’s lawyers, led by Derrick Bazekuketta and Eron Kiiza, objected to the complainants’ request for criminal summons, arguing that the matter is personal and that Byamazima and Tumukunde are meddling. They claimed that Abodo hasn’t complained, and the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The lawyers also argued that the complainants haven’t addressed the common law and Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing. They insisted that Ssemakadde should be treated fairly and justly in the investigations.
Byamazima and Tumukunde, however, maintained that Ssemakadde should be summoned to court to protect his right to a fair hearing. The complainants submitted a flash disk containing a video of the alleged utterances, which they claim were made during a symposium on November 18, 2024.
The court proceedings were characterized by tense exchanges between the lawyers. At one point, Byamazima sparked a heated debate when he addressed Bazekuketta as “My Learned Brother,” prompting Bazekuketta to correct him, saying the proper term is “Learned Friend.”
Lawyer Milton Ocen, wearing a T-shirt with Ssemakadde’s campaign slogan, applied to join the case as a friend of the court (amicus curiae). Ocen argued that Ssemakadde’s rights would be embarrassed if he were not allowed to join the case. The court has adjourned the matter until January 17, 2025, for determination.
