Court orders arrest of ULS chief Ssemakadde

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Buganda Road Court has issued a warrant of arrest against Uganda Law Society (ULS) president Isaac Ssemakadde for allegedly insulting Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo.

Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi issued the directive on February 24, 2025, after Ssemakadde’s defence lawyer, Derrick Bazekuketta, failed to provide sufficient reasons for his [Ssemakadde’s] absence in court.

As a result, the magistrate invoked Section 55 (1) of the Magistrates Court Act to issue the warrant, which is set to be returned to court on March 19, 2025.

“This court has issued criminal summons twice which were duly served to Ssemakadde and cannot issue summons for the third time when there are no convincing reasons advanced for his failure to appear in court,” Kayizzi stated.

Although the defence lawyer claimed that Ssemakadde is in court through him, the magistrate ruled that while an accused person can appear through advocates under Article 28 (3) of the Constitution, they must personally appear to take a plea, as advocates cannot take pleas on behalf of their clients.

The magistrate also noted that there is a pending application for a stay before the High Court. However, he stated that there is no order to stay the proceedings of the lower court.

Court records indicate that on February 17, 2025, a charge of insulting the modesty of a woman was sanctioned against Ssemakadde in accordance with Section 113 of the Penal Code Act.

However, Ssemakadde failed to appear in court to take a plea. He was subsequently summoned to appear on January 29, 2025, but he also failed to appear.