KAMPALA – The Uganda Law Society issued Executive Order RNB No. 3 of 2024, calling for a boycott of Judge Musa Ssekaana. This decision was made after the society was made aware of at least 18 instances of judicial misconduct attributed to Judge Ssekaana.
The instances of misconduct include abuse of power, bias and prejudice, disregard for the law, failure to recuse himself, and intimidation and harassment of advocates and other court users. The Uganda Law Society has withdrawn the “Excellence from the Bench” award previously granted to Judge Ssekaana in September 2021.
“We cannot continue to watch as the integrity of the judiciary is undermined by the actions of a few individuals,” said Isaac K. Ssemakadde, President of the Uganda Law Society. “The allegations against Judge Ssekaana are serious and warrant immediate action. We urge all our members to boycott Judge Ssekaana for a period of one month, effective immediately.”
The society has also directed Judge Ssekaana to return the award and remove any reference to it from his website, curriculum vitae, and other publications. Furthermore, the Uganda Law Society has held the Principal Judge accountable for failing to take administrative action against Judge Ssekaana, despite numerous complaints.
“The Principal Judge has failed to take appropriate administrative action against Judge Ssekaana, despite numerous complaints,” Ssemakadde said. “This has enabled Judge Ssekaana to continue his misconduct, undermining the integrity of the judiciary. We direct the Judicial Service Commission to expedite the investigations of all complaints against Judge Ssekaana since 2018 and publish the findings by January 15, 2025.”
The Uganda Law Society will review the boycott and discuss the annual judiciary performance report for 2024 at a general meeting before January 31, 2025. Any member of the society found to be in non-compliance with this executive order will face disciplinary action.
“We will not tolerate any behavior that undermines the integrity of the judiciary,” Ssemakadde emphasized. “We will continue to hold judges and other judicial officers accountable for their actions, and we will work tirelessly to promote the rule of law and protect the rights of all Ugandans.”
