Regional Law Societies join ULS's Radical New Bar to launch activities to mark 70 years

As Uganda Law Society clocks Seventy years of existence this year in December 2026, since its establishment in 1956 under the colonial ordinance, representatives from East Africa Law Society, Kenya Law Societies and other partners joined Uganda Law Society (ULS) to launch a series of activities to mark the milestones, reflect on the past and to forge a way forward of safeguarding the rule of law in Uganda and the region at large.

The activities according to the Radical New Bar will be carried out under the theme: Uganda Law Society at 70 years: Remembering, resisting and upholding constitution in a changing landscape”

At the launch event

During the launch of the activities held at ULS headquarters in Kololo, The Chief Guest Senior Council Charles Kamjama, the President of the Law Society of Kenya while applauding todays’ lawyers for continuing to promote the rule of law, said that there is need for regional lawyers to remain in solidarity to finding justice to clients.

“One of the functions of Uganda Law Society is to promote the rule of law. For accumulative work, internal vigilance is the price of liberty, regional lawyers should remain in solidarity to carry out work in finding justice. We stand with you when we see any challenge, we come together as lawyers” he said.

He added that; “Lawyers take oath to fight for the rule of law and administration of justice, without fear or favor while taking responsibility to act without intimidation to enable access to justice”

The Vice President of Uganda Law Society, Counsel Anthony Asiimwe, while making his remarks announced that they will be communicating a series of activities set aside to mark 70 years of ULS in line with resisting lawlessness in Uganda. He mentioned that some of the activities will include a strike by lawyers, public sensitizations among others.

The CEO, ULS Christine Awori highlighted that while the 70 years of the Uganda Bar is a milestone worth to be celebrated, there are also moments of reflection, for the fundamental questions about the rule of law, fair trial rights, and the independence of the legal profession that continue to confront Uganda.

“Recent events involving our member, Senior Counsel Erias Lukwago, and the denial of entry to Senior Counsel Martha Karua, have reminded us that the struggle for justice and constitutionalism remains as relevant today as it was when this society was founded” she said.

She called upon stakeholders to celebrate the rich history of the past 70 years while recommitting themselves to the values that define the profession, justice, integrity, independence and service.

Meavwhile, Advocate Aminah Achola, Advocate from the Governing Council and ULS President Isaac Ssemakadde’s special envoy, narrated that the story of the celebration will be hinged to three aspects of where we have been, where we want to be and where we are now, citing the first two colonial decades that were “marked by retreat of the rule of law in the face of greater armed might being imposed by the executives”, the 1995 constitution as a dawn of a new era designed to include everyone and to protect everyone to the current radical new bar that came to place the idea of rule of law in this country back on track.

“Current events, playing out even today as we speak, show that this is an ongoing struggle. As we work to bring the law back on track, other forces are working to take it even further off track, and all the way back to the days we thought were completely behind us” she said.

She said that between now and the grand commemoration in December 2026, ULS shall conduct a series of events aimed at bringing out and educating on various themes and points of concern regarding the challenges to upholding constitutionalism.