The State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, has condemned Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde for publicly endorsing opposition candidates ahead of the 2026 general elections, accusing him of breaching decades of legal neutrality.
Under the Radical New Bar (RNB) banner, Ssemakadde backed Robert Kyagulanyi for President, Erias Lukwago for Kampala Mayor, Dr. Obuku Ekwaro Anthony for Oyam South, as well as all NUP and PFF candidates nationwide for elective positions.
In a statement released on 22nd December, 2025, Minister Barugahara said Ssemakadde’s actions violate the Uganda Law Society Act of 1956, which established the ULS as a statutory body tasked with upholding professionalism, promoting justice, and serving lawyers regardless of political affiliation.
“The Uganda Law Society, founded under the 1956 Act of Parliament, exists to serve lawyers, uphold high professional standards, and promote justice,” Barugahara stated.
The minister emphasized that the ULS should serve as a unifying platform for lawyers of all political beliefs, rather than being treated as the personal property of any individual or faction.
“I have seen a circular circulating on social media, issued by an absentee ULS member, endorsing a terribly losing presidential candidate. The Uganda Law Society is neither private property, nor a clan, tribe, or family enterprise. It is a statutory entity, meant to serve lawyers of all political persuasions. No individual owns it, and no faction can capture it,” Barugahara added.
Highlighting the political diversity within the ULS, Minister Barugahara said the society’s membership spans supporters of NRM, NUP, PFF, FDC, and other formations. By publicly endorsing specific candidates, he argued, Ssemakadde has lost focus and balance in leadership.
“What we are witnessing is not serious leadership; rather, it is a troubling loss of balance and focus. The individual who issued the endorsement requires rehabilitation, not applause,” Balaam stated.
The minister’s remarks highlight the importance of political neutrality in professional bodies, particularly organizations like the ULS, which are designed to bring together lawyers across political divides rather than encourage partisan activity.
