Lawyers under the Uganda Law Society (ULS) have announced a nationwide demonstration scheduled for Friday to protest what they describe as continued violations of human rights and disregard for the rule of law in the country.
The lawyers said they will wear black attire as a symbol of mourning and solidarity with Ugandans who they say have suffered injustice, unlawful detention, abductions, and other forms of rights violations.
Speaking during the announcement, ULS’s acting secretary general, Babu Ssali, who read the society’s statement, said the planned action will be peaceful and aimed at sending a strong message to government authorities.
“The rule of law is the foundation of every democratic society. We want the government to understand that respect for the law is essential for the protection of all citizens,” Ssali said.
The announcement of the planned demonstration coincided with a courtesy visit by members of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) to the Uganda Law Society headquarters in Kampala.
The delegation said it had visited the society to express appreciation for what it described as the ULS’s firm stance against human rights violations and its continued advocacy for the rule of law.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Lulume Bayigga, the vice president of PFF, praised the ULS leadership for what he called its courage in speaking out against injustice.
He specifically commended ULS president Isaac Ssemakadde and the society’s leadership for championing the “Radical New Bar” agenda, which he said has emboldened lawyers to play a more active role in defending citizens’ rights and holding authorities accountable.
“The Radical New Bar has given lawyers renewed strength and confidence to defend the rights of the people and uphold the rule of law,” Bayigga said.
According to the lawyers, many Ugandans have in recent years been arrested, detained for long periods, abducted, or reported missing under circumstances that have raised concerns among rights activists, lawyers, and civil society organisations.
Ssali said the legal fraternity can no longer remain silent while citizens continue to face what he described as violations of their constitutional rights.
“People are in jail, others have been abducted, some have been killed, while many families continue to search for relatives who remain missing,” he said.
He added that every lawyer across the country has been encouraged to participate in the demonstration and express concern about what society describes as a growing erosion of constitutional freedoms.
The planned protest comes amid increasing public debate over the state of human rights in Uganda.
ULS called on its members to conduct themselves peacefully during the demonstration and to uphold the values of the legal profession while expressing their concerns.
