Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has openly criticised lawyers appointed by the state to represent opposition leader Kizza Besigye, questioning their role in a case where the accused has rejected their services.
In a pointed message, Ssemakadde addressed Sylvia Namawejje, Julius Serwambala, and Sarah Awere, who were recently assigned to act for Besigye despite his objections.
The former presidential candidate and his co-accused have insisted on being represented by lawyers of their own choice, arguing that their constitutional rights are being violated.
Ssemakadde said the lawyers should have taken note of Besigye’s stance from the outset.
“By now, you must have heard the deafening silence from the dock. You went to Luzira prison, CVs in hand, ready to ‘represent’ a man who explicitly told you to get lost.”
He argued that the appointments came against the backdrop of actions that have weakened Besigye’s preferred legal team.
He cited the arrest of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the reported denial of entry into Uganda for Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua.
According to Ssemakadde, these developments raise serious questions about fairness in the trial process.
“You are not ‘counsel of choice.’ You are state-sanctioned placeholders in a system that has methodically neutralized his actual legal team.”
The ULS president further challenged the lawyers to reflect on their motivations for accepting the assignment, suggesting their involvement could be viewed as legitimising a flawed process.
“Are you here for the money? Is this a payday, justified by the hollow phrase ‘state brief’? Or are you building your CVs?”
He warned that their participation could define their professional legacy.
“You will make history alright. But not as heroes. You will go down as the lawyers who allowed themselves to be used as fig leaves for a flawed process.”