UgandaToday: Ssemakadde Blasts Appointment of Jane Frances Abodo as Principal Judge
Kampala, Uganda – September 1, 2025 – The President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), Isaac Ssemakadde, has sharply criticised the appointment of Jane Frances Abodo as Principal Judge, describing the move as a “recipe for disaster” and a further erosion of public trust in the judiciary.
In a strongly worded statement issued under the Radical New Bar (RNB), Ssemakadde accused Abodo of bias and deliberate weaponisation of criminal justice during her five-year tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He claimed that Abodo used her office to target critics and political opponents of her appointing authority, thereby undermining judicial independence and integrity.
Alleged Defiance of Supreme Court Orders
Ssemakadde questioned Abodo’s qualification for the appointment, citing her alleged defiance of a Supreme Court order in the case of Attorney General v Kabaziguruka (Constitutional Appeal No. 2 of 2021), which directed the transfer of civilians from military to civilian courts.
A Discredited Judicial Service Commission?
The ULS President further criticised the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for proceeding with judicial appointments despite ongoing legal challenges. He argued that the appointment of Abodo through what he termed an “opaque process” will only accelerate the judiciary’s decline.
“The office of the Principal Judge has already been reduced to a ceremonial mascot and an artery of external influence,” Ssemakadde said, warning that Abodo’s rise to the position will entrench external interference and deepen public mistrust.
A Call for Judicial Reform
Ssemakadde expressed hope that the controversy surrounding Abodo’s appointment will force a reckoning in Uganda’s judicial sector. He insisted that the situation underscores the urgent need for “radical surgery of our judiciary” to restore credibility and accountability.
The press release concluded with Ssemakadde’s biting words: “May she fail spectacularly.”
The government has not yet issued an official response to these accusations.
#UgandaJudiciary #JaneFrancesAbodo #IsaacSsemakadde #UgandaLawSociety #JudicialReform #RuleOfLawUg #UgandaToday
Publisher
