Views: 4
Second Arrest Warrant Issued for Isaac Ssemakadde in just 10 Days
Isaac Ssekkadde, the president of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), is currently a sought-after individual after the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court issued a second arrest warrant for him on Monday, February 24th. This comes in light of his failure to attend a scheduled court hearing.
Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi granted this warrant due to Ssekkadde’s absence in relation to accusations of vulgar insults directed at Jane Frances Abodo, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Court documents from February 17, 2025, indicate that charges were brought against the ULS president under Section 113 of the Penal Code Act. He was summoned to appear on January 29, 2025. However, his attorney claimed that he could not meet this date due to a severe cough and an ongoing High Court decision. Consequently, the hearing was postponed to February 24.
Nevertheless, Ssekkadde failed once again to appear in court, with his lawyer contending that there is a pending application in the High Court to suspend the proceedings and that the legal team is representing him.
“In my last ruling, I stated that while an accused person can be represented by counsel under Article 28(3) of the Constitution, he or she must appear in person to take a plea, as lawyers cannot do so on behalf of their clients,” noted Chief Magistrate Kayizzi.
“The accused was duly served with summons, and an affidavit of service is on record. While there is a pending application for stay of proceedings, it is established law that such an application does not amount to an order of stay. The defense counsel has not given sufficient reasons for his absence, and the court cannot extend summons a third time without a valid reason,” further said Kayizzi.
Magistrate Kayizzi referenced Section 55 (1) of the Magistrates Courts Act when issuing the arrest warrant and stated it should be presented back to court by March 19, 2025.
Lawyers John Byamazima and Tonny Tumukunde initiated the charges against Ssekkadde. The charge sheet details that Ssekkadde insulted the dignity of a woman at the People’s Front for Freedom Offices in Katonga on November 18, 2024, by referring to Lady Abodo as “a vagina from Karamoja, a dead wood, a dimwit, and a shameless careerist.”
This is the second arrest warrant issued for Isaac Ssemakadde within a span of 10 days. The first was granted by High Court Justice Musa Ssekaana on February 14, 2025, for contempt of court, resulting in a two-year jail sentence for his persistent attacks on judicial officials. Justice Ssekaana remarked that Ssekkadde has been continually disparaging the Judiciary via social media.
Ankole Times