The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered Isaac Ssemakadde, President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), to appear in court on January 29, 2025, to answer charges of insulting the modesty of a woman.
The charge stems from alleged utterances Ssemakadde made on November 18, 2024, at a symposium in Kampala, where he referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Justice Jane Frances Abodo, using derogatory language.
Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi found a prima facie case against Ssemakadde, ruling that his words were intended to insult the DPP’s modesty.
“Anyone who refers to a woman by her private body parts intends to insult her modesty. Anyone who refers to a woman as “Vagina from Karamoja… a pumpkin… dead wood… a dimwit” at a public gathering well aware that there is media presence knows that the said woman will definitely hear those words said against her. The intention is most likely to insult her modesty,“ Mr Kayizzi.
The court also rejected Ssemakadde’s lawyers’ argument that the case should not proceed because the DPP did not file a complaint, citing Section 42 (1) (c) and (3) of the Magistrates’ Court Act, which allows anyone with reasonable cause to make a complaint.
“In conclusion, the complaint has satisfied the requirements outlined in Section 42 (3) (4), (5) (6), and (7) of the Magistrates Courts Act. I have found sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Mr. Ssemakadde for insulting the modesty of a woman, contrary to Section 115 (3) of the Penal Code Act. Therefore, I hereby issue a charge sheet and criminal summons against Mr. Ssemakadde, requiring him to appear in court on January 29, 2025, to answer the charges and provide an explanation for his words.” Mr Kayizzi ruled.
Among the words that Ssemakadde used during the symposium that court wants him to appear and explain are… “…..that all these things like your particular kaffir form is given legal dressing by this vagina from Karamoja…I have made a case before that we have a pumpkin for a DPP, but some lawyers continue to pretend that she is actually the DPP..she is dead wood….”
Ssemakadde had also filed an application to dismiss the complaint, claiming it was brought in bad faith and breached Ssemakadde’s right to freedom of expression. However, the court dismissed the application, affirming its jurisdiction to hear the case.
