Political leaders have called for greater respect for human rights and the rule of law as the Uganda Law Society (ULS) held the second edition of the Sam Kalega Njuba memorial lecture in Kampala.
The lecture was organised to honour the legacy of the late Sam Kalega Njuba, a former minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, freedom fighter and two-term president of the Uganda Law Society. Njuba was also a member of the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1995 Constitution.
The event brought together lawyers, politicians and other public figures to reflect on Njuba’s contribution to the legal profession, human rights and constitutionalism.
The keynote speaker, former Kira Municipality MP Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, said the true test of the rule of law comes during difficult moments when defending it may be inconvenient or unpopular.
He commended the ULS and what he referred to as the Radical Bar for continuing to speak out in defence of the rule of law despite what he described as difficult circumstances in the country.
Ssemujju also referred to Njuba’s own experience as president of the Uganda Law Society, saying the late lawyer had faced serious consequences when he defended people who were considered enemies of the state.
He said Njuba’s experience demonstrated the importance of lawyers standing up for citizens whose rights are threatened, even when doing so carries personal risks.
David Lewis Rubongoya, the National Unity Platform (NUP) secretary-general, also attended the lecture and read a speech on behalf of party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who was not present.
Rubongoya said Njuba’s legacy should continue to be respected, describing him as a lawyer who left his professional career to participate in activism and defend people whose rights had been infringed by the state.
“I am here to represent Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the leader of the National Unity Platform, who is currently in exile,” Rubongoya said.
Kyagulanyi has been outside Uganda since leaving the country in March 2026. He said at the time that he had left for international engagements after spending about two months in hiding, citing concerns about his safety.
Rubongoya said the circumstances facing some Ugandans today reflected issues that Njuba had fought against during his lifetime.
He called for the release of people he said were being held in detention without genuine reasons and raised concerns about the treatment of political prisoners, including what he described as pressure on some detainees to accept amnesty.
The NUP secretary-general has previously raised similar concerns about alleged unlawful detention, abductions and other human rights issues in Uganda.
These are positions advanced by the party and its leaders and remain part of the wider political debate over human rights and the rule of law.
Anthony Asiimwe, the Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, said the memorial lecture had been established as an annual event to preserve Njuba’s contribution to the legal profession and provide an opportunity for senior citizens, politicians and lawyers to discuss issues affecting the country.
Asiimwe said the ULS wants the government and other stakeholders to engage in a national conversation and dialogue aimed at addressing the country’s political and constitutional challenges.
He warned that failure to pursue dialogue could undermine respect for the rule of law.
The second memorial lecture builds on the inaugural Sam Kalega Njuba Memorial Lecture held by the ULS in September 2025.
