The High Court of Uganda has sentenced prominent lawyer who doubles as Uganda Law Spciety President and activist Isaac Kimezze Ssemakadde to two years in prison for contempt of court.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Musa Ssekaana, found Ssemakadde guilty of making derogatory and scandalous remarks against the judiciary through his social media platforms.
The case, Mugisha Hashim Mugisha v. Isaac Kimezze Ssemakadde (Misc. Application No. 0059 of 2025), was filed after Ssemakadde launched a series of public attacks on Justice Ssekaana following a ruling in another case involving the Uganda Law Society. Through his X (formerly Twitter) account, Ssemakadde accused the judge of bias, corruption, and having “unholy alliances” with government officials.
Court records indicate that between December 11 and December 22, 2024, Ssemakadde made a string of offensive posts, including launching the hashtag #SsekaanaMustGo. The posts claimed that the judge was compromised and working against the independence of the legal profession. He further referred to Justice Ssekaana using explicit and demeaning language, including an accusation of sexual harassment.
In one of his most controversial posts, Ssemakadde called upon his followers to “document & expose additional instances of judicial misconduct involving Judge Musa Ssekaana.” The court ruled that such statements were not only defamatory but also intended to intimidate the judiciary and interfere with judicial proceedings.
In his landmark ruling, Justice Ssekaana emphasized that while criticism of judicial decisions is allowed, personal attacks against judges amount to contempt of court. He further stated that the judiciary must protect its authority against scandalous attacks meant to discredit its independence.
“The respondent has continued to make relentless attacks on the judge and the entire judiciary with the sole purpose of undermining its authority. Such conduct erodes public confidence in the judicial system and must be punished,” ruled Justice Ssekaana.
The court noted that Ssemakadde’s actions encouraged others to disregard court rulings, thereby posing a serious threat to the rule of law. The ruling referenced past legal precedents that define contempt of court as actions that “scandalize or tend to lower the authority of the judiciary.”
Ssemakadde, who was not present in court during the ruling, has been a vocal figure in Uganda’s legal and activist circles. His Radical New Bar movement has often clashed with judicial and government authorities over issues of legal independence and human rights.
His supporters have condemned the ruling, calling it an attack on free speech, while legal analysts argue that the court’s decision sets a strong precedent against online defamation of judicial officers. The Uganda Law Society has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the conviction.
With this ruling, Uganda’s judiciary has sent a clear message against the misuse of social media to intimidate or influence court decisions. It remains to be seen whether Ssemakadde will appeal the sentence or serve his prison term.
The imprisonment of Isaac Ssemakadde marks one of the most high-profile contempt of court cases in Uganda’s recent history. As debates over judicial independence, free speech, and legal accountability continue, this case will likely remain a defining moment in Uganda’s legal landscape.
