The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has officially abolished the use of colonial-era honorifics such as “My Lord,” “My Lady,” and “Your Worship” in the country’s courts, marking a significant step in decolonizing the legal system. The directive, issued by ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde on Tuesday, coincides with Saba Saba Day, an East African commemoration of resistance against authoritarian rule.
New Forms of Address for Judicial Officers
The executive order mandates that judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal be addressed as “Mr Justice” or “Madam Justice.” High Court judges will be referred to as “Mr Judge” or “Madam Judge,” while magistrates and registrars should be addressed by their office or surname, such as “Magistrate Nakato” or “Registrar Ankunda.” The order also prohibits lawyers from bowing or performing any act of “physical subservience” before judicial officers, describing such rituals as “theatrical props of elitism” that shield the judiciary from accountability.
Rationale Behind the Reform
Mr. Ssemakadde stated that the archaic colonial structure adopted in Uganda has contributed to the failure of the judicial system. According to the executive order, these honorifics “elevate judicial officers above citizens who are in reality their employers.” The order further criticizes the judiciary, calling it “appalling, marked by executive capture, chronic delays, selective justice, prolonged pre-trial detention, judicial corruption, systemic bias towards the powerful and connected, and deliberate unresponsiveness to enforced disappearances, torture, and attacks against lawyers.”
Broader Decolonization Efforts
This move is part of Mr. Ssemakadde’s broader campaign to decolonize Uganda’s legal system. In 2024, shortly after his election as ULS president, he removed the Attorney General and the Solicitor General from the Law Society’s leadership council, arguing that their automatic seats were remnants of colonial rule. He described the decision as “a bold and necessary step to restore public confidence in the justice system” and dismissed allegations of extremism, insisting that his methods are “radical but necessary.”
Context and Controversy
Mr. Ssemakadde has been operating from exile in Rwanda after being sentenced to two years in prison for contempt of court in December 2024. The sentence stemmed from offensive social media posts targeting then-High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana, including the hashtag #SsekaanaMustGo. The judge deemed the statements “derogatory and scandalous and a threat to judicial officers.” Despite his exile, Mr. Ssemakadde continues to lead the ULS and push for reforms.
