The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has declared Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija a "global judicial pariah" and directed lawyers to boycott his planned November 21 thanksgiving ceremony in Rukungiri District. ULS President, Senior Counsel Isaac K. Ssemakadde, accused Zeija's leadership of undermining judicial independence, raising concerns about justice administration, human rights protection, and the Judiciary's relationship with the Executive.
The ULS cited alleged interference in court processes, prolonged detention of political prisoners, and unresolved human rights concerns as reasons for their stance. They also pointed to President Yoweri Museveni's July 4 remarks against the Judiciary, which the Society claims Zeija's leadership failed to adequately address. These concerns raise questions about the Judiciary's ability to protect the rule of law, safeguard fundamental rights, and dispense justice without political interference.
Ssemakadde criticised the planned thanksgiving ceremony, describing it as an unnecessary diversion of judicial time and public resources. He argued that the Judiciary should prioritise its constitutional mandate of delivering timely and impartial justice rather than committing resources to celebratory activities. Lawyers have been instructed not to attend, sponsor, or publicly endorse the November 21 event.
The ULS has announced plans to launch an international protest letter campaign aimed at drawing attention to concerns surrounding judicial independence and demanding accountability from Zeija's leadership. This move is likely to draw attention from the wider legal fraternity and international human rights organisations as the November 21 ceremony approaches.
The controversy places Chief Justice Zeija at the centre of renewed debate about the independence of Uganda's Judiciary and the responsibility of legal institutions to uphold constitutional principles. The ULS, under Ssemakadde's leadership, has previously organised boycotts of judicial events, including the July 2025 thanksgiving ceremony of former Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo.
The ULS's decision to declare Zeija a "global judicial pariah" and boycott his thanksgiving ceremony has sparked a heated debate about the role of the Judiciary in Uganda's democratic process. The Society's actions are seen as a bold move to assert its independence and protect the rule of law.
The boycott of Chief Justice Zeija's thanksgiving ceremony is set to have significant implications for Uganda's Judiciary and the wider legal community. The ULS's efforts to promote judicial accountability and independence are likely to continue, with the November 21 ceremony serving as a focal point for the debate.
Key points
- The Uganda Law Society has declared Chief Justice Flavian Zeija a "global judicial pariah" and directed lawyers to boycott his November 21 thanksgiving ceremony.
- The ULS cited concerns about judicial independence, human rights protection, and the Judiciary's relationship with the Executive as reasons for their stance.
- The boycott of Chief Justice Zeija's thanksgiving ceremony has sparked a heated debate about the role of the Judiciary in Uganda's democratic process.
