The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has formally severed what it described as “begging relations” with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, marking a bold declaration of independence from executive financial influence.
In an Executive Order issued on Thursday, the ULS Governing Council announced the immediate termination of any efforts to solicit or rely on financial support from the President, including a long-standing Shs 5 billion pledge made in 2018 toward the construction of the ULS House.
The Society described the pledge as “unfulfilled” and denounced it as a “hollow gesture” reflective of broader concerns over fiscal accountability.
The directive, signed by ULS President Isaac K. Ssemakadde and Treasurer Arthur Isiko, underscores what the Society called its constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law and protect the independence of the Bar from political patronage and financial inducements.
“The continuation of any begging posture is fundamentally incompatible with the ULS’s duty to credibly challenge runaway budget corruption,” the order states, warning that reliance on state largesse risks eroding public trust and weakening the legal profession’s role in holding power to account.
The ULS also used the statement to highlight what it termed a stark disparity between unfulfilled commitments to civil institutions and rising expenditures at State House.
It pointed to escalating classified budgets and significant allocations for donations as evidence of misplaced government priorities.
Without providing specific figures, the Society referenced increasing public concern over fiscal discipline, particularly in the context of recent election cycles. It cited allegations of excessive spending, electoral irregularities, and misuse of public resources during the 2021 and 2026 general elections as part of a broader pattern undermining democratic governance.
At the same time, the ULS celebrated the near completion of its headquarters in Kololo, noting that the project had been realized through member contributions rather than government support. The Society described the development as a “testament to self-reliance, transparency, and collective resolve” within the legal profession.
As part of the sweeping directive, all mandates issued to ULS envoys tasked with pursuing the presidential pledge or related funding have been revoked. The Society further announced a strategic shift toward advocating for legal and institutional reforms aimed at improving the financial sustainability of lawyers and the Society itself.
These reforms, the ULS said, will focus on amendments to laws governing the legal profession, including the Advocates Act and the Uganda Law Society Act, with the goal of strengthening legitimate income streams and reducing dependency on external funding.
The Executive Order took immediate effect upon issuance and will remain in force until amended or rescinded by the Governing Council.
The move signals a significant shift in the relationship between Uganda’s legal profession and the executive, positioning the ULS as an increasingly assertive voice on governance, accountability, and institutional independence.
