KAMPALA: Uganda Law Society (ULS) president Isaac Ssemakadde has said Pheona Wall Nabasa is not fit to represent the lawyers’ body to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
In a missive on social media Ssemakadde says during her tenure as Uganda Law Society between 202o and 2022, Wall betrayed the body.
“I write to patriotically oppose your candidacy for the Uganda Law Society (ULS) representative nominee to the Judicial Service Commission, your past leadership fundamentally betrayed the core principles of our institution”, Ssemakadde asserted.
“You suppressed ULS elections for the JSC representative and instead appointed unelected advocates to the commission.”
According to Ssemakadde, Wall allowed government interference into the JSC, ignored concerns from ULS members, and covered up allegations of bribery and sexual harassment in the judiciary.
“Your past actions were a shameful subversion of democratic processes and a betrayal of the trust placed in you as our leader,” wrote Ssemakadde.
He further warned that Wall’s leadership at the JSC would perpetuate what he termed a “culture of impunity.”
According to Ssemakadde, ULS members should reject Wall’s candidacy and support leaders aligned with the “radical new bar” movement, a reformist agenda focusing on decolonization, demilitarization, democratization, and digital transformation within Uganda’s legal framework.
Wall has yet to issue an official response to the accusations.
However, her supporters describe the letter as a politically motivated attack ahead of the critical nomination process.
The ULS Judicial Service Commission nomination holds significant influence, as the commission plays a key role in judicial appointments and maintaining the independence of the judiciary.
This development underscores the growing tensions within the legal fraternity as it grapples with issues of accountability, governance, and representation.
