ULS Declares Friday 26th June as Lawyers’ Graveyard Strike Day against Lawlessness & Torture

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has set Friday, June 26, 2026, as a nationwide lawyers' strike day to protest state lawlessness, judicial interference, and the continued detention and torture of Ugandans by Public and Private Entities.  

The strike action follows a series of escalating confrontations between Uganda’s legal fraternity and state security agencies and the commemoration of the International  Anti-Torture Day.

Lawyers initiated the strike at the time of the the arbitrary detention and harassment of advocates most notably the seizure of Erias Lukwago, a lead lawyer for opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye.

The strike will be held under the theme, “When Torture Enters the Courtroom, Justice Leaves the Republic”

VP ULS Anthony Assimwe (M) Actg SG Babu Ssali (R)  and Central Region ULS Representative Alexander Lule

During the announcement of the strike at the ULS head offices in Kololo on Thursday 25^th June 2026, The Vice President of ULS Advocate Anthony Asiimwe, said that tomorrow the 26^th June, all lawyers in Uganda are expected to participate in a peaceful strike based at the graveyards, close their law firms, to show case the gravity of lawlessness exhibited by government agencies and public companies in Uganda.

“Tomorrow is the day of mourning, wear black attire, black ribbons, black armbands or approved T-Shirts from ULS. Members will abstain from all court appearances and ordinary office work, to protest state overreach and the erosion of the rule of law. The Graveyard was chosen as a sign of pain, suffering  and a report against torture” he said

While reading out the matching orders of the strike day, the Acting  Secretary General, ULS Ssali Babu said the legal fraternity could no longer remain silent in the face of practices that undermine constitutional rights and the administration of justice.

He said that the matching orders are in relation to the countrywide industrial action, calling for various stakeholders to participate in different methods of their professions, adding that the strike seeks to defend the foundational principles upon which Uganda’s justice system is built and to reaffirm the legal profession’s commitment to human dignity and the rule of law.

“This is not a partisan action and it is not a labour dispute. It is a constitutional intervention. Our message is simple: no justice can be built on torture, no court should sanitize abuse, and no advocate should be punished for defending a client.  The action is neither partisan nor a labour dispute but a response to a steady erosion of constitutional safeguards and the integrity of Uganda’s justice system” he said

Babu however clarified that that while advocates have been asked to abstain from regular court appearances and office work on Friday, he said that emergency legal services will remain operational for urgent matters involving threats to life, liberty, and property such as: urgent child protection matters, domestic violence cases, imminent statutory deadlines among others.

“The action should not be interpreted as abandoning clients. It is a defence of the justice system that protects their liberty, property, families, businesses and rights. Emergency legal services will remain available where life, liberty or fundamental rights are at immediate risk,” he said

According to ULS the strike on 26^th June is part of a broader campaign  for strengthening constitutional governance, democratic accountability, and human rights protections and that the law society plans to publish a national participation report, continue public education on torture, arbitrary detention.

On the same occasion, victims of torture from a private owned entity narrated their experiences while in detention after being arrested from their work places. The victims applauded ULS for swinging into action to save them from unlawful arrests.