Uganda Law Society ends colonial titles for judges and bans bowing

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has decided to stop using old colonial names like "My Lord," "My Lady," and "Your Worship" in the country’s courts.

The ULS is the main group for lawyers in Uganda. It represents and supports lawyers and helps to regulate the legal profession.

The ULS President, Isaac Ssemakadde, signed an order to stop using these titles for its members on Tuesday. This was done on Saba Saba Day, which is a day to remember the fight against bad governance in East Africa.

This is part of his effort to change what he calls the colonial setup of Uganda’s justice system. He has been running the ULS from outside the country for eight months because of his exile.

The order stops lawyers from bowing or doing any act of “physical subservience” before judges. It also removes titles that suggest “lordship, worship, or feudal superiority” and replaces them with simpler ways to address judges.

Mr Ssemakadde said that the old colonial system has harmed the judicial system in the country. He stated, "They elevate judicial officers above citizens who are in reality their employers."

He described the state of the judiciary as terrible. It is marked by government control, long delays in cases, unfair treatment, extended detention before trials, corruption, and bias towards the rich and powerful. The executive order noted this problem and called for change.

The new order states that judges in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal will be called “Mr Justice” or “Madam Justice.” High Court judges will be called “Mr Judge” or “Madam Judge.” Magistrates and registrars will be addressed by their titles or surnames, such as “Magistrate Nakato” or “Registrar Ankunda.”

From now on, all members of the Uganda Law Society must not bow or show any physical submission to judges. The order states, "All advocates and litigants appearing before any court or tribunal shall stand upright and speak as free citizens."

It adds that no one in the Radical New Bar should force Ugandans into humiliating postures while the powerful are treated with respect. The order calls such actions “theatrical props of elitism” that keep the judiciary unaccountable to the people.

Mr Ssemakadde has been pushing for the “decolonisation” of Uganda’s legal system. Some of his actions have received criticism.

In 2024, soon after becoming ULS president, he removed the Attorney General and Solicitor General from the Law Society’s leadership council because their positions were seen as leftovers from colonial times.

He called this decision “a bold and necessary step to restore public confidence in the justice system.” He also rejected claims that he is extreme, saying his actions are “radical but necessary.”

Mr Ssemakadde fled to Rwanda last year after he was sentenced to two years in prison for contempt of court.

Musa Ssekaana, a judge in the High Court’s Civil Division, sentenced him for making offensive posts from December 11 to 22, 2024, using the hashtag #SsekaanaMustGo.

The judge said his comments were “derogatory and scandalous and a threat to judicial officers.”