A section of lawyers under the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has openly rejected an Executive Order issued by the Society\u2019s Governing Council, accusing the leadership of abandoning the long-standing principle of political non-partisanship and undermining the independence of the legal profession.<\/p>\n
The lawyers expressed \u201cdeep disappointment and outright condemnation\u201d of Executive Order RNB No. 6 of 2025, issued on December 21. The order is criticised for allegedly endorsing a particular presidential candidate and party flag bearers ahead of the 2026 general elections.<\/p>\n
The lawyers argue that political neutrality is the bedrock of the Uganda Law Society\u2019s legitimacy and moral authority. They warn that once the Society is perceived as partisan, it risks losing public trust and its ability to represent all citizens fairly, regardless of political affiliation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs officers of court, defenders of the rule of law and custodians of constitutionalism, lawyers must remain independent, objective and guided solely by the law,\u201d the statement reads. \u201cNeutrality does not mean silence in the face of injustice, but engagement from a principled, constitutional and evidence-based standpoint\u2014not politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
The signatories further accuse the ULS Governing Council of acting without adequate consultation and departing from established custom and tradition in the management of the Society\u2019s affairs. They caution that the Executive Order threatens unity within the legal fraternity, which brings together members drawn from across Uganda\u2019s political spectrum, including the NRM, NUP, FDC, DP, JEEMA and other parties.<\/p>\n
According to the lawyers, institutional partisanship could weaken the Society\u2019s ability to speak credibly on matters of justice, governance and the rule of law, while also fueling internal divisions at a time of heightened political activity nationwide.<\/p>\n
The statement calls on ULS members and stakeholders to disregard the impugned Executive Order in order to safeguard the Society\u2019s non-partisan character, national cohesion and constitutional principles. The lawyers also reaffirm ULS\u2019 long-standing policy of political neutrality in the conduct of its institutional business.<\/p>\n
In a sharp warning to the current leadership, the advocates caution that failure to reverse course could have lasting consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistory will remember this Council,\u201d the statement warns, \u201cas the one that killed the Uganda Law Society,\u201d unless corrective action is taken.<\/p>\n
By press time, the ULS Governing Council had not publicly responded to the concerns raised by the dissenting lawyers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A section of lawyers under the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has openly rejected an Executive Order issued by the Society\u2019s Governing Council, accusing the leadership of abandoning the long-standing principle of political non-partisanship and undermining the independence of the legal profession. The lawyers expressed \u201cdeep disappointment and outright condemnation\u201d of Executive Order RNB No. 6 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[715],"class_list":{"0":"post-7778","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"tag-uls"},"yoast_head":"\n