Ssemakadde Blasts Muhoozi Over Arrest Threats in Speaker Row

KAMPALA — Uganda Law Society President Isaac Ssemakadde has sharply criticized Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba over remarks threatening the arrest of individuals opposed to their preferred candidate for Speaker of Parliament, describing the statements as an assault on constitutionalism and democratic freedoms.

In a strongly worded reaction that has since sparked debate across legal and political circles, Ssemakadde accused the First Son and military chief of promoting intimidation and undermining the rule of law.

“Constitutionalism is not a barracks parade where dissenters march straight into handcuffs for refusing to salute patriarchal decrees,” Ssemakadde said.

He argued that Uganda’s governance is anchored in constitutional order and not coercion or militarized rhetoric.

“Uganda is governed by law, not testosterone and midnight tweets,” he added.

Speaker Election Must Follow the Constitution

Ssemakadde emphasized that the office of the Speaker of Parliament is established and regulated under the Constitution, insisting that no individual or informal power structure has the authority to impose leadership choices on Ugandans.

“The Speaker of Parliament is elected under the Constitution, not appointed by a self-anointed council of men claiming a divine monopoly on leadership,” he stated.

His comments come amid growing political tension surrounding succession debates and speculation over the future leadership of Parliament.

‘Language of Frightened Power’

The Uganda Law Society president further condemned threats of arrest directed at dissenting voices, saying such pronouncements reflect insecurity rather than legitimate state authority.

“And as for threatening arrest over disagreement — that is the language of frightened power, not legitimate authority,” Ssemakadde said.

He stressed that democratic governance allows citizens to freely express political opinions without fear of intimidation or detention.

“Citizens are not subjects. Women are not constitutional footnotes,” he added, in what appeared to be a broader criticism of patriarchal and authoritarian tendencies in public leadership.

Appeal to Constitutional Order

In one of the most striking parts of his statement, Ssemakadde challenged Gen. Muhoozi to revisit the foundational principles of Uganda’s Constitution before issuing threats against citizens.

“Kindly locate Article 1 of the Constitution before locating handcuffs,” he said.

Article 1 of Uganda’s Constitution provides that all power belongs to the people, who shall exercise their sovereignty in accordance with the Constitution.

Growing Debate

The exchange is likely to intensify ongoing national debate about the role of the military in political affairs, freedom of expression, and constitutional governance ahead of the country’s evolving political transition conversations.

Neither Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba nor the Uganda People’s Defence Forces had formally responded to Ssemakadde’s remarks by press time.