Mr Ssemakadde called for urgent reforms to address what he termed as “a deepening crisis within the Judiciary,” citing judicial delays, systemic misconduct, and a lack of accountability.
Released today, the letter has sparked nationwide debate, with Ssemakadde accusing the judiciary of failing its constitutional mandate.
He highlighted persistent delays in justice delivery, specifically pointing to the Supreme Court’s backlog of constitutional appeals, some pending for over four years.
Studies cited in the letter reveal worrying annual clearance rates of just 8% in 2023 and 10% in 2024.
“The lack of movement in the top court creates a vacuum where justice suffocates,” Ssemakadde wrote, describing the judiciary’s performance as a “systematic erosion of justice.”
Mr Ssemakadde also criticised the Judiciary for maintaining injunctions that prevent rulings from lower courts, arguing that these measures prioritize state interests over citizens’ rights.
“These injunctions are not only obnoxious but also an affront to constitutional principles,” he said, adding that they have eroded public trust in the judiciary.
The ULS president didn’t shy away from linking the judiciary’s shortcomings to broader human rights issues. He condemned the judiciary’s alleged role in enabling a “police-to-prison pipeline,” citing the recent abduction and detention of opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye.
“This is a direct assault on human rights that you, Honorable Chief Justice, are both morally and constitutionally obligated to address and repair,” he wrote.
Call for Accountability
Mr Ssemakadde’s letter demands increased accountability from senior legal officials, including the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, urging them to be held to the same standards as ordinary citizens.
“No one should be above the law,” he emphasized, calling on the Chief Justice to take personal responsibility for restoring integrity to the judiciary.
Breaking his sick leave to pen the letter, Ssemakadde described this moment as critical for the judiciary.
“We need more than adjournments and sympathetic ears. We need action—a ruling notice, a decisive signal that the judiciary will hold itself accountable.”
With Uganda’s New Law Year approaching, Ssemakadde warned of “unavoidable friction” if systemic issues remain unaddressed.
While he acknowledged the Chief Justice’s recent efforts to foster dialogue, he stressed that substantive reforms are long overdue.
“Will you deal with the elephant in the room?” he asked in a direct appeal to the Chief Justice.
The letter has divided opinion among legal experts and civil society. Some hail it as a courageous step in holding the judiciary accountable, while others see it as unnecessarily confrontational.
Uganda’s judiciary has long been criticized for its growing case backlog, spanning all levels from Magistrates’ Courts to the Supreme Court.
While CJ Owiny-Dollo has advocated for more judicial officers to address the issue, Ssemakadde argued that much more remains to be done.
Barely 100 days into his tenure as ULS president, Ssemakadde appears committed to delivering on his promise of a radical shake-up to promote judicial independence.
As the spotlight intensifies, the coming weeks will reveal whether CJ Owiny-Dollo and other senior judicial officials will heed this call for transformative change—or maintain the status quo.
