law 8 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)

Uganda Law Society at Crossroads: Will Ssemakadde's 'Radical New Bar' Vision Endure?

As the Uganda Law Society (ULS) prepares for new leadership, a critical question emerges: can the institution maintain the principled, confrontational stance championed by outgoing president Isaac Ssemakadde, or will it revert to its former passive role?. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/will-the-next-uls-president-keep-the-radical-new-bar-s-vision-alive--5625212

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) stands at a pivotal moment as it gears up for a leadership transition. The tenure of its current president, Isaac Ssemakadde, SC, has been marked by a significant departure from the norm, characterized by what is being called the ‘Radical New Bar’ (RNB).

Ssemakadde’s leadership ushered in a period of deliberate disruption, replacing what is described as ‘polite neutrality’ with a commitment to ‘principled confrontation’. This approach aimed to challenge institutional capture and advocate for the open defense of the Constitution. The RNB vision also sought to dismantle colonial court rituals, promoting instead a system that upholds equal dignity for all.

This shift has redefined the ULS’s public interest mandate, moving it away from a perceived comfortable irrelevance towards a more active and assertive role in national discourse. Lawyers, advocates, and observers of the legal fraternity are now contemplating the future of this transformed bar.

The central question facing prospective leaders is whether they will embrace and preserve the RNB Vision 2060. The challenge lies in navigating the path forward to ensure the momentum generated by Ssemakadde’s presidency is sustained, rather than allowing the ULS to recede into a less impactful, albeit more comfortable, existence.

The ongoing discussions highlight the expectations placed upon the next president to either build upon this radical foundation or risk a return to the status quo. The legal community is watching to see if the ULS will continue its journey of principled engagement or drift back towards its previous stance. This transition will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of the institution and its role in Ugandan society.