Court Directs Interpol to Drag Ssemakadde Back to Uganda

Buganda Road court has ordered International police to arrest Uganda Law society president Isaac Ssemakadde who is believed to be outside the country.  

Ssemakadde’s International arrest warrant has been issued by cheif magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on the request of private prosecutors and lawyers Tonny Tumukunde and Joshua Byamazima. 

Last month the two lawyers asked court to arrest their leader on charges of insulting the modesty of the Lady DPP Jane Frances Abodo but despite proof of service of the same to his lawyers from GEM advocates, Ssemakadde has evaded arrest from Uganda Police. 

Today the lawyers applied before court to have Ssemakadde arrested by the International police, a request magistrate Kayizzi has granted after being satisfied that that leader of the bar is on the hiding outside the country.  

Kayizzi ordered that Ssemakdde be arrested not later than 16th April 2025. 

His lawyers led by Derrick Bazekuketta told the Chief Magistrate that their client Ssemakadde was always present in court through them, a submission that court rejected saying it was not applicable in criminal matters where criminal liability is individually affected. 

On November 22, 2024, Byamazima and Tumukunde filed a complaint on oath and an affidavit in support thereof seeking summons against Ssemakadde to appear and plead to the proposed charge of insulting the modesty of a woman contrary to Section 115(3) of the Penal Code Act.

The two private prosecutors allege that on November 18, 2024, while addressing the members of the People’s Freedom Front (PFF) party at a “symposium on the state of the Rule of Law, Constitutionalism and Human Rights: The Kisumu 36 Tales” held at Katonga Road in Kampala Central, Kampala District, Ssemakadde uttered obscene and indecent words against the DPP Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo.

“All these things like your particular kerfuffle are then given legal dressing by this vagina from Karamoja,” reads the words in contention reportedly said by Ssemakadde. That Ssemakadde added, “I have made a case before that we have a pumpkin for a DPP, but some lawyers continue to pretend that she is actually the DPP… she is deadwood.” 

This would not be the first time court orders for Ssemakadde’s arrest as in February this year the Highcourt also ordered that the ULS president be arrested and imprisoned for 2 years for contempt of court and insulting judicial officers.