The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a strong response to President Yoweri Museveni’s July 4 address, announcing a planned protest targeting what it describes as an attack on judicial independence.
In a statement signed by Vice President Asiimwe Anthony, the lawyers’ body called on supporters of alleged political prisoners to “occupy the Judiciary” on Friday, July 17, 2026, by presenting petitions at the Judiciary headquarters.
The ULS accused the courts of maintaining “silence” following the President’s remarks, which it termed “the most vicious attack on judicial independence in recent memory.”
The statement demands that the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, and Principal Judge publicly clarify the Judiciary’s position on both the July 4 address and the broader handling of politically sensitive cases.
“We will petition… to publicly state the Judiciary’s position on the 4 July Address and on the use of courts to launder a reign of terror,” the statement reads in part.
The lawyers’ body further linked the issue to ongoing concerns about abductions and alleged human rights violations, arguing that judicial inaction risks normalising such incidents.
It criticised what it described as symbolic engagements, including official events, in the absence of firm condemnation of alleged abuses.
“Silence in the face of abductions… cannot normalize these atrocities,” the statement adds, in one of its strongest passages.
The ULS also raised alarm over the safety of judicial officers, posing a rhetorical question on whether action would only come after harm befalls members of the Bench.
“Are we waiting for the abduction or killing of a judicial officer before the Bench joins the Bar and the public in condemning this assault on justice?” the statement asks.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between the Executive and legal fraternity in Uganda, particularly over bail, political detainees, and the independence of courts.
Museveni’s recent remarks questioning bail for certain suspects have drawn criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups.
The planned protest is expected to test the Judiciary’s response, as pressure mounts for a clear institutional position on the unfolding constitutional and human rights concerns.