MASAKA, UGANDA – The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has paid tribute to the late Sam Kalega Njuba, a former president of the society and a revered icon of the Rule of Law, as part of its 16th Annual Rule of Law Week. The event, running from September 15th to 19th, 2025, is themed “Strengthening the Rule of Law through Collective Responsibility for Peace, Democracy, and Development.”
The highlight of the week will be a memorial lecture on September 18th, delivered by Hon. Justice Fredrick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende, following the 17th General Meeting of the ULS, scheduled for Wednesday, September 17th, at Imperial Royale Hotel.
The week-long activities commenced in Masaka District, where the ULS Rule of Law team—led by Vice President Mr. Asiimwe Anthony—engaged with the Greater Masaka Bar at the Masaka High Court. The team was welcomed by the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Her Worship Loe Karungi.
During the engagement, Mr. Asiimwe strongly condemned the growing disregard for the rule of law and disobedience of court orders, warning that such behavior could plunge the country back into instability. He called on all institutions, including security agencies and government bodies, to uphold court decisions, and urged the judiciary to take a firm stance against those who defy them.
“The moment the public loses trust in this process, we shall all be affected,” said Mr. Asiimwe
He further stressed the need for an independent judiciary and cautioned against individuals taking the law into their own hands.
Hon. Joseph Gonzaga Sewungu, a Member of Parliament and a ULS member, commended the Society for visiting Masaka to better understand the region’s legal challenges. He acknowledged the Society’s efforts in addressing case backlogs and other systemic issues.
One resident of Lwengo voiced dissatisfaction with the judiciary’s performance, citing irregularities and parliamentary chaos during the age-limit debate. He proposed that the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Defense Forces should be elected rather than appointed, to reduce conflicts of interest.
Her Worship Karungi, the Court Registrar, underscored the importance of collaboration between the judiciary, legal aid providers, and the bar in meeting the justice needs of the public. Mr. Asiimwe explained that ULS chose Masaka due to its significant challenges, including a backlog of over 5,000 cases, managed by only one judge and one registrar.
He reiterated that the Society’s mission is to defend the rights of ordinary citizens, and the visit to Masaka was aimed at identifying and addressing the pressing issues affecting legal practitioners and the broader community.
