Court stops Uganda Law Society meeting, elections of JSC members

KAMPALA - Court has issued an order stopping the Uganda Law Society (ULS) from holding its annual general meeting scheduled for Saturday at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe.

The Civil Division of the High Court presided over by Justice Bernard Namanya, issued the directive following an application filed by lawyers Martha Nabijewa and Tonny Tumukunde against ULS and its vice-president, Anthony Asiimwe.

Others sued are ULS members Arthur Isiko, Samuel Muhumuza, Emmanuel Omiat Egaru and Eddie Nangulu.

In a ruling dated October 16, 2025, Namanya temporarily blocked the meeting, pending determination of the main case or until the court issues further orders.

“A temporary injunction is hereby issued restraining the Uganda Law Society, its members and any of its officials from convening and holding an Annual General Meeting on October 18, 2025 or on any other date or future date until the final determination of the main case,” Namanya ruled.

The injunction also restrains ULS from implementing the resolutions passed at the ULS general meeting held on September 17, 2025, at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

Justifying his decision, Namanya said the main suit raised serious legal questions requiring determination, including whether the current ULS Council was properly constituted and whether it lawfully convened the two meetings.

“This court is satisfied that there are serious questions to be tried in the main suit,” he noted.

The judge said allowing ULS to proceed with the meeting could cause irreparable injury, particularly regarding the election of nominees to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a constitutional body that advises the President on judicial appointments.

In their main case, Nabijewa and Tumukunde contend that the current ULS Council is not lawfully constituted because key statutory members, including the Attorney General, Solicitor General, Secretary (Phillip Munaabi), and central region representative (Geoffrey Turyamusiima), did not participate in council decisions leading to the two meetings.

The applicants cited Section 9 of the ULS Act, which provides that the Council must include the Attorney General and Solicitor General, and argued that any meetings convened without their participation are illegal.

In response, Asiimwe and ULS chief executive officer Christine Awori argued that the September 17 meeting was not convened by the Council but by ULS members.

The court also noted that the censure of Council members Phillip Munaabi and Geoffrey Turyamusiima at the September 17 meeting may have violated their right to a fair hearing.