Ethiopia– The Uganda Law Society (ULS) Governing Council looked physically complete once again—radiant, relieved, and almost unbelieving.
For the first time in many months, the Bar sighed with visible joy. The long-missed comrade, President Isaac Ssemakadde, SC re-joined his colleagues in a moment that felt both surreal and restorative.
Since February 2025, Ssemakadde has been living in exile, having fled Uganda amid what many observers have described as escalating political persecution, particularly from segments of the Judiciary. His absence has left not only just an institutional gap but an emotional one to the Bar. For many lawyers, he is more than a leader—he is a symbol of defiance, courage, and unapologetic advocacy.
When he walked into the lobby of the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa—host venue of the 30th East African Law Society Annual Conference and General Meeting—the atmosphere got lit instantly. The reactions were spontaneous and overwhelming. Lawyers rushed toward him with unrestrained affection: hugging, shouting his name, laughing, shaking hands vigorously, and pulling him into endless clusters for selfies and group photos.
It was a reunion overflowing with pent-up emotion. The scene felt almost nostalgic, as if a family member long presumed distant had wandered back home. For a moment, the noise of exile, controversy, and political tension faded; what remained was pure camaraderie—Ssemakadde surrounded by his own people.
The Governing Council members, many of whom had not seen him since his departure from Uganda, couldn’t contain their excitement.
Their faces lit up with a mix of disbelief and triumph. Conversations buzzed, cameras flashed, and the usually formal ambiance of a continental legal conference gave way to something warmer, more human.
Here, in Addis Ababa, far from Kampala’s political heat, the Bar found its balance again—even if only for a moment. The joy of linking up with a missed comrade rekindled the spirit of a profession that has weathered intimidation, division, and uncertainty. And as the meeting continued, it was clear that this reunion would remain one of the most unforgettable highlights of the 30th EALS Annual Conference.
Source: Uganda Law Society
