The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has been rocked by fresh controversy following the sudden resignation of its Head of Protocol, Enock Kizito, who says he stepped down due to sustained threats to his safety and a failure by the Bar’s leadership to protect him.
Kizito’s resignation, announced over the weekend, extends beyond a single role he has relinquished all his positions at ULS, including Clerk to Council, Personal Assistant to the CEO, and Chief Scheduler to ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde.
“Today, I made the painful yet necessary decision to resign from all my roles at the Uganda Law Society,” Kizito wrote in a statement, “Belief is not enough when your life is on the line.”
His departure is the latest blow to an institution already mired in internal conflict, following an attempted coup against President Ssemakadde and Vice President Anthony Asiimwe earlier this year. That attempt led to the dismissal of its alleged orchestrators, Philip Munaabi and Central Region representative Geoffrey Turyamusiima.
Kizito detailed a troubling history of intimidation and surveillance, reportedly from both state security agencies such as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Parliament CID, and Kiira Road Police and from individuals within or formerly part of the ULS Council.
He said he raised the threats with top leadership, including President Ssemakadde and the CEO, but received no meaningful response or institutional protection.
A pivotal moment, according to Kizito, came on February 7, 2025. Acting on behalf of ULS, he delivered sensitive documents to the Speaker of Parliament. These included a letter from the ULS President, sworn affidavits, and support materials related to a petition against Justice Musa Ssekana—alleging he sexually exploited female litigants in return for favorable rulings.
“The Uganda Law Society had resolved to bring these matters to Parliament in the interest of judicial accountability and protection of survivors,” Kizito said.
His resignation raises questions about the safety and autonomy of legal professionals in Uganda, and how seriously institutions are taking internal whistleblowing and security concerns particularly when high-level judicial misconduct is involved.
As the ULS reels from a string of internal upheavals, the resignation of one of its key figures underscores an urgent need for reform, transparency, and protective mechanisms for those within the legal system who risk their lives to uphold it.
