For most of his working life, Isaac Ssemakadde has banged several tables.
Ask Nicholas Opiyo, ask Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, ask Kiryowa Kiwanuka, ask Jane Frances Abodo, ask Law Development Centre, ask Daily Monitor, ask NTV, ask NBS TV, ask Muhammad Nsereko, ask Musa Sekaana…the list goes on and on.
Now he is banging the biggest of tables: He wants to be president of the Uganda Law Society (ULS) come what may.
From his modestly furnished office on Teacher’s House along Bombo Road, Ssemakadde has fought several battles some of which he has lost and others won.
Yet if he succeeds on September 28 and is elected the leader of lawyers in this country, the self-styled Rastafarian would have won one of the biggest battles of his legal career.
His candidacy has created excitement and buzz among a section of Ugandan elites who think the legal profession needs a radical shakedown and that Ssemakadde is the right person for such a task.
In fact, if the election of the president of ULS was open to non-advocates, Ssemakadde would be assured of a landslide going by what many people are posting on social media.
But that’s not how things work at ULS and like most profession-based associations, elections for leadership tend to be intricate affairs beyond the noise.
Ssemakadde has several strengths according to his backers.
First he is a fearless advocate for justice. He has taken on high-profile cases, defending individuals whose rights have been trampled, often going up against the state and powerful institutions. His fearlessness could serve the ULS well in tackling difficult issues head-on, advocating for reforms within the legal system, and standing firm against external pressures.
Second, Ssemakadde has consistently called out corruption and the abuse of power within Uganda’s governance structures, including the judiciary. As president of the ULS, he could be the catalyst for much-needed reforms in the legal profession, pushing for greater accountability, transparency, and independence.
Third, he has carved out a reputation as a voice of the marginalized. It speaks volumes that Ssemakadde declined a full time at AF Mpanga and Company Advocates and opted for public interest litigation. Ssemakadde has built a reputation as a lawyer for the underdog. Maybe this is the person that ULS, that claims to be people-centred, needs.
Lastly, Ssemakadde’s unapologetic style and refusal to conform to some of the entrenched legal norms may be exactly what’s needed to shake up the status quo. His presidency could signal a shift towards a more progressive, transparent, and activist ULS that is willing to challenge internal complacency and external interference.
Yet Ssemakadde will not succeed if he cannot win over that conservative old lawyer who views an advocate as someone who wears a nice suit, keeps short hair and drives a fancy car. Not someone who spots a hairstyle favoured by musicians from the Caribbean.
A senior lawyer in Kampala told Bbeg Media that while he admires Ssemakadde’s tenacity, he would not vote for him a number of reasons.
First, he said, a president of ULS cannot function well if they have disagreements with the judiciary or several of its members.
“His outspoken critique of the legal system has been viewed as undermining the very institution the ULS is meant to uphold. Such friction with the judiciary makes it difficult for someone like Ssemakadde to execute his mandate if elected President of ULS,” said the lawyer.
The seasoned lawyer also added that one can’t successfully be ULS president in Uganda and then try to alienate key players like the Attorney General or even the political establishment. On several issues, Ssemakadde like his predecessors, will have to strike a compromise and abandon his hard stance, the lawyer said. Otherwise, many of the lawyers who will vote this Saturday may prefer someone less polarizing to represent them in sensitive political negotiations.
Lastly, while some people may see his independence and non-conformist stance as a strong trait, he has to know that he must represent the interests of all lawyers.
“His reputation as a “rebel lawyer” may make it hard for him to win the necessary backing from the more conservative members of the ULS,” the lawyer said.
Whatever the outcome, this year’s election of the ULS president this Saturday promises to be exciting.
If Ssemakadde wins, it will be a victory for many who have been calling for reforms in ULS. If he loses, he will have banged at least one more table and ULS will never be the same again.
