Headline: Uganda Law Society Clarifies Non-Partisan Stance Amid Controversial Political Endorsement
Subheading: Senior Government Official Condemns “Loss of Balance,” Highlights Society’s Cross-Political Membership
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has found itself at the center of a political storm following a controversial circular on social media endorsing a presidential candidate. In a sharp rebuke, Hon. Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, has issued a detailed statement clarifying the statutory body’s non-partisan nature and condemning the move as a “troubling loss of balance and focus.”
The ULS, established by an Act of Parliament in 1956, is a statutory body mandated to serve all Ugandan lawyers, uphold professional standards, and promote justice. Minister Barugahara emphasized this foundational principle, stating, “Uganda Law Society is neither private property, nor a clan, tribe, or family enterprise. It is a creature of the laws of Uganda… No individual owns it, and no faction can capture it.”
The controversy stems from a circular reportedly issued by an absentee member of the ULS Council, which endorsed what Barugahara described as “a terribly losing presidential candidate.” While the specific candidate and issuer were not named in the minister’s statement, the intervention underscores heightened political tensions within professional bodies.
To illustrate the society’s political diversity, Barugahara listed prominent members from across the spectrum. He noted that the ULS includes strong supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and affiliated groups, such as Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka (Attorney General), Counsel Karugire, and Counsel Elison Karuhanga.
Equally, he pointed to well-known opposition figures within the society, including Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (People’s Power Forum), Members of Parliament Elias Nalukoola (NUP), Mathias Mpuuga (Democratic Front), and Medard Sseggona (NUP), as well as counsel from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
“What we are witnessing is not serious leadership,” Barugahara asserted, directly criticizing the individual behind the endorsement circular. “It is a troubling loss of balance and focus. The individual who issued the endorsement requires rehabilitation, not applause.”
The public statement serves as a forceful reminder of the ULS’s intended role as an impartial institution serving all legal professionals. It also highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining political neutrality within Uganda’s key civic and professional organizations, especially during periods of heightened political activity.
As of now, the Uganda Law Society’s official council has not released a public statement regarding the controversial circular or the minister’s remarks. The incident raises questions about internal governance and the potential for professional bodies to be drawn into political factionalism.
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