Uganda Law Society breaks neutrality, endorses opposition candidates ahead of 2026 elections

2026 Uganda Decides

In a stunning departure from decades of political neutrality, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued an executive order endorsing opposition figures and parties for the upcoming 2026 general elections, citing an “existential threat” to the rule of law under the current regime. The move, announced in a document signed by ULS President Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde on December 21, 2025, marks a historic shift for the professional body representing Uganda’s legal community.

The executive order, titled “Departure from Tradition of Political Neutrality and Official Endorsement of Candidates for the 2026 General Elections in Defence of the Rule of Law,” accuses the Museveni/National Resistance Movement (NRM) government of excessive militarization, corruption, and the capture of state institutions, including the judiciary. It describes the situation as one where “neutrality equates to complicity,” highlighting issues such as abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and the unlawful trial of civilians in military courts.

“Security forces have been weaponised to suppress dissent,” the order states, referencing President Yoweri Museveni’s alleged admission of operating a “black site” known as the “fridge” and threats against voters. It further criticizes the judiciary for being undermined through “deliberate coercion, rigged appointments, manipulated rulings, and clandestine judicial postings,” turning it into a “rubber stamp of militarism and political repression.”

Ssemakadde, acting in consultation with the Radical New Bar Governing Council, invoked “extraordinary circumstances” to justify the endorsements. The ULS has thrown its support behind:

• Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (popularly known as Bobi Wine) as candidate for President of the Republic of Uganda.
• Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago for continued leadership of the Kampala Capital City Authority.
• Dr. Obuku Ekwaro Anthony for Member of Parliament in Oyam South Constituency.
• All candidates from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) at presidential, parliamentary, and local government levels.
• All lawyers and law students who are members or aspiring members of the ULS and are standing as candidates in any elective position.

The order praises these candidates and platforms as representing “the foremost credible force for restoring constitutional order, economic justice, youth empowerment, accountable governance, and the independence of institutions.” It calls for a “total political reset,” including the demilitarization of civilian affairs, the liberation of captured institutions, and an end to abductions and sham trials, all in line with Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.

In a strong condemnation, the ULS denounces the Museveni/NRM regime’s “decades-long normalisation of impunity, over-militarisation of politics, and subversion of independent institutions.” The document warns that the regime has transformed state tools into instruments of repression, eroding public trust in the law and placing the legal profession under threat.

The society has urged its members, the wider legal community, law students, civil society organizations, and “patriotic Ugandans” to mobilize in support of the endorsed candidates. It pledges to deploy its resources—within legal bounds—to educate the public on the stakes of the 2026 elections. Notably, the order advises voters to “vote and remain within the vicinity (20 meters distance) of your polling station” to monitor the process and safeguard the interests of the endorsed candidates.

This executive order takes immediate effect and will remain in force until the conclusion of the 2026 elections or until revoked. Signed and sealed in Kampala, it ends with a rallying cry: “The legal profession will no longer stand idle while the rule of law is extinguished. The 2026 elections present the moment to reclaim our nation and restore professional dignity.”

Reactions to the announcement were swift and polarized. Opposition supporters hailed it as a bold stand against authoritarianism, while government loyalists decried it as an overreach by a professional body. Whisper Eye has reached out to the ULS, NRM officials, and endorsed candidates for further comment, but responses were not immediately available.

As Uganda gears up for what promises to be a contentious electoral cycle, this endorsement could galvanize anti-regime sentiment within influential circles, potentially reshaping the political landscape. The full text of the executive order is available for public review, underscoring the ULS’s commitment to transparency in this unprecedented move.