Self-exiled Uganda Law Society (ULS) president Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde has petitioned High court justice Joyce Kavuma, asking her to recuse herself from a case in which he is challenging his two-year jail sentence issued to him by justice Musa Ssekaana earlier this year. Ssemakadde
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In a formal letter dated June 13, 2025, Ssemakadde raised concerns over what he termed “an inordinate delay” in hearing his application for a stay of execution of a warrant for his arrest and committal. Filed on February 20, 2025, the application, registered as HCMA No. 137 of 2025, is yet to be heard on its merits.
The head of civil division of the High court, Kavuma, most recently adjourned the matter to August 19, prompting Ssemakadde to allege that the repeated delays amount to constructive exile and a violation of his fundamental rights.
“In essence, you have condemned me to forced exile of more than six months. Irreparable harm has already been caused to my livelihood, reputation, and family life, and to my one-year term of office as president of the Uganda Law Society,” reads the letter by Ssemakadde.
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The warrant in question stems from a February 2025 ruling by then-head of the civil division of the High court justice Musa Ssekaana, who sentenced Ssemakadde to two years in prison for contempt of court.
The ruling followed social media posts and public statements made by Ssemakadde in 2022 and 2023 in which he accused Ssekaana of bias and abuse of office, particularly in matters involving civil liberties and state interests.
Ssekaana ruled that Ssemakadde’s comments were scandalous, contemptuous, and undermined the authority of the judiciary, justifying custodial punishment as a deterrent. Ssemakadde has since refused to submit himself to authorities, arguing the sentence is unconstitutional and that he was denied a fair hearing.
