The pages that follow are written in an unusual form. They are neither a judicial opinion, nor an academic journal article, nor a political manifesto in the ordinary sense. They are an epistle, an open letter addressed to the Radical New Bar, the Bench, the Bar, the wider Justice Sector, and ultimately to the people of Uganda. The choice of this form is deliberate.
Throughout history, letters have served as instruments of reflection, correction, encouragement and reform. They have challenged institutions, comforted communities, and invited generations to re-examine the principles upon which they stand. This Letter is offered in that same spirit. Its central concern is neither the defence nor the condemnation of any single institution. Rather, it asks a broader question:
How should justice institutions sustain the confidence of the people in an age of profound technological, social and constitutional change?
The arguments that follow draw upon legal philosophy, constitutional thought, developments in Uganda’s justice sector, scholarship on Alternative Justice Systems, and contemporary public experience. They seek neither to diminish the constitutional role of the courts nor to glorify their competitors. Instead, they invite all who labour for justice to reflect upon a proposition that lies at the heart of this Letter:
Justice is a competitive market in which institutions continually earn, or lose the confidence of the people they exist to serve.
Whether the reader ultimately agrees with this proposition is less important than engaging seriously with the questions it raises.
This Letter is therefore offered, not as the final word on the future of justice, but as a contribution to an ongoing national conversation about legal culture, institutional legitimacy, and the enduring pursuit of justice.
The reader is now invited to proceed.
JOIN THE UNDERGROUND ANDFUEL THE MOVEMENT
We have created a dedicated fans WhatsApp Channel. Don’t miss the latest updates, get early bird access to our latest blog posts and more, so much more. Click the following link to follow the Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb9BQqw5a246bWVsLl3j
Independent institutional critique and advocacy for a radical overhaul of legal culture require time, deep research, and uncompromised independence. If these narratives bring value to your legal journey or challenge your perspective, please visit our HOME PAGE to see how you can support this platform directly and keep the critique fierce and relentless.
What happened to Counsel Lukwago strikes at the heart of justice. Arresting and intimidating a lawyer for _preparing to serve court papers_ is a direct attack on the rule of law. If advocates can’t file and serve process safely, the courts themselves are under siege.
I hope this time the Judiciary will apply its Constitutional Duty under Article 126(1), of The Constitution of Uganda. _“Judicial power is derived from the people and shall be exercised by the courts… in the name of the people and in conformity with law and with the values, norms and aspirations of the people.”_
When an officer of court is “abducted” for doing his job, the Judiciary must: – Issue a statement The Chief Justice or DCJ or PJ should publicly condemn any interference with legal process. Silence reads as consent or complicity. – Demand immediate disclosure: Courts have inherent power to require security agencies to produce a detained advocate and state where he is he is especially where messages shared are distressing like what we are seeing-
Post by Erias Lukwago on X
Protect the process: No person is above service of process. – Judiciary has been put on trial by these events as to whether it will protect the judicial process or not.The whole world is watching I believe. – As for Ugandans ,its difficult to know what they think: New Normal has arrived for them. – Secondly Uganda Law Society must defend its members and the rule of law. They should file an-
Emergency petition in High Court for Lukwago’s production and safety. They should not wait for end of 48 hours. ULS should Call for judicial inquiry Into the “basement” photo, the arrest, and likely torture. Surely the Provisions of the Constitution particulatly Article 24 of the Constitution protects people from torture as “No person shall be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”. It is mandatory.
I saw members on LDC Legal Alerts forum supporting Torture of suspects, and these were both Judicial Officers and Advocates, I hope they have seen the dangers of tolerating torture of anyone arrested I hope ULS will be serious on formally bringing this to the attention of the International community because independence of the judicial officers and lawyers has been terribly affected. They are now siezed with fear.
Lawyers who would persue this matter might be the next victims. No one is safe.
If ULS does not rise up and take practicable steps, the rights of their members to practice under Article 40(2) – Every Ugandan has a right to practice their profession will seriously be affected. 2. Independence of lawyers under UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers must be upheld. _“Governments shall ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference.”_ 3. There can be no justice without Access to courts. If lawyers are arrested for serving papers, you’ve shut the court doors there by violating Article 28– Right to a fair hearing.
Every person regardless of the nature of his or her case has a right to legal representation. Harrassing lawyers should be condenmed in the strongest terms and action taken.
Even the Holy Word of God provides for legal services. Proverbs 31:8-9: _“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”_ Isaiah 1:17: _“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.”_
A reign of terror starts when advocates are punished for representing particular clients or filing papers in court. It ends when the Judiciary says _“No. Not on our watch.”_ That is why Judiciary and ULS has to work together to end this foolishness and impunity
What should happen next 1. Immediate production: Lukwago must be brought before a judge within 48 hours per Article 23(4). 2. Medical examination: If the photo shows distress, an independent doctor must assess him for torture. 3. Protective orders: Court should bar security agencies particulary UPDF, from interfering with lawyers serving process in any case filed in Ugandan courts. 4. The judiviary should come out to condenm illegal ingazetted basements for this is not the first time its happening Everything goes back to the Judiviary as an arm of Government. Terror cannot rule where law stands. Judiciary should apply the law as it is. Their current complicit is allowing terror to stand. Eddy Mutwe, and others would not be in jail now if _Judiciary was exercising its Judicial independence. I know the word of God says: “Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear” Isaiah 54:14 But that promise requires judges, lawyers, and representatives of citizens in Parliament to act and citizens themselves. Silence means you have consented to Terror. Is that so for Ugandans? Let Lukwago’s case open our eyes. No one is safe .
From Enen Legal World:
This Blog foreshadows for a high ranking Judicial Officer who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of “the basement” which is nolonger a secret.
That, in many ways, was the question hanging over the inaugural ECCMIS Symposium that I recently attended as a member of the Judiciary Affairs Committee of the Uganda Law Society, a technology enthusiast, and perhaps most importantly, a practising advocate who has experienced firsthand both the promise and frustrations of Uganda’s digital transition.
This newsletter is a continuation of my earlier reflections on the necessity of technological adoption within our profession. Then, I argued that lawyers must embrace technology or risk being left behind. Today, however, I wish to discuss a different concern: how we ensure that digital transformation does not leave people behind.
The Bar Speaks
Our ULS leadership—President Isaac Ssemakadde, SC, and VP Anthony Asiimwe—were clear: while the Bar supports modernization, we must prioritize accountability and interoperability. As Vice President Asiimwe noted, deadlines continue to run even when the system fails, creating a dangerous procedural environment for advocates. The leadership emphasized that a digital system that cannot guarantee the safety of our filings is, for all practical purposes, a liability to the Rule of Law.
Beyond the Headlines
Much has already been said about ECCMIS, the Judiciary’s flagship case management system. The symposium brought together judicial officers, ICT specialists, researchers, and members of the Bar to discuss the realities of implementation. What emerged was neither a story of triumph nor failure, but one of transition.
Mr. David Sunday Kikabi, Director of ICT at the Judiciary, clarified that the transition remains phased, operating in 49 court stations, representing roughly twenty percent of the Judiciary’s footprint. Hon. Justice Christopher Madrama reminded participants that meaningful criticism must appreciate the operational realities of implementing a national digital infrastructure. Lady Justice Immaculate Busingye offered a historical reminder that ECCMIS was born from the Bar’s outcry over missing court files and administrative inefficiencies.
The Day Technology Sent Me Home
Several years ago, I dispatched my legal assistant to certify specific company records for use as evidence. The process had migrated to digital URSB portals, and the traditional method was no longer available.
Looking back, the issue was not the technology itself, but the lack of preparedness and notice. We arrived at a destination only to discover the road had been moved.
The Walk of Shame
This experience mirrors a reality we have lived or heard of: a lawyer travels with a client, fully prepared, to file court a client’s case, including an urgent application for an interim injunction, a high stakes life and death-last minute filing where the plan is to secure an urgent exparte interim relief, only to be guided that manual filing is nolonger being accepted, rather that everything is being filed online and worst of all, the system is itself down!. The “walk of shame” of the lawyer and his client back to chambers to figure out what to do next undermines the dignity of our profession and erodes trust.
The Namukasa Test
Perhaps the most profound contribution came from Lady Justice Monica Mugyenyi, who asked: Can Namukasa use it? If our justice system is technologically sophisticated but socially inaccessible, it has merely transformed the appearance of the problem, not solved it.
What the Research Revealed
Research presented during the symposium identified recurring concerns, including bandwidth limitations, intermittent outages, server congestion, and user-experience challenges. In some instances, courts equipped for ECCMIS have reverted to manual processes due to operational interruptions. These findings should not be viewed as evidence of failure. Rather, they remind us that digital transformation is a process of continuous refinement.
Waiting for perfection is not a strategy; building bridges is.
Bridge One: Training the Profession. I am championing a volunteer-led Trainer-of-Trainers programme to bring practical ECCMIS training to regional bars. I invite the Judiciary’s ICT Directorate to collaborate in developing a standardised framework to equip advocates with the skills to navigate the digital environment confidently.
Bridge Two: Interoperable Solutions. During the symposium, Riyale Tech Solutions showcased the Riyale Legal Suite, an ECCMIS-integrated practice management platform that helps law firms manage and track ECCMIS updates, court cases, hearing dates, documents, clients, billing and invoicing, court schedules, and day-to-day operations. By streamlining legal workflows and digitizing firm operations, Riyale Legal Suite supports the transition to a paperless practice and improves efficiency across the firm. Paperless courts need paperless law firms, and Riyale Legal Suite bridges the gap. Having reviewed the platform, I believe it offers practical solutions for many of the challenges currently facing firms during the transition to digital practice. If you missed symposiom, Access the Riyale Tech Presentation here. Advocates interested in exploring the platform further may contact me for demonstrations, implementation support, and licensing arrangements.
The Road Ahead
The future of justice will undoubtedly be digital. The question is whether it will also remain accessible.
If Namukasa can navigate the system with confidence, if advocates can serve their clients without fear of technological paralysis, and if justice can continue moving even when a server fails, then ECCMIS will have achieved something far greater than digitisation. It will have expanded access to justice. And that is a future worth building.
Now let me be equally clear. I hold no equity, ownership, employment, or decision-making role in Riyale Tech Solutions or any affiliated legal technology provider discussed in this article. Any professional introductions that may arise between practitioners and technology providers do not influence the opinions expressed here, which remain independently formed.
Let us build the connections that matter.
Enen Ambrose
Advocate & Member, Judiciary Affairs Committee, Uganda Law Society
Phone/WhatsApp: 0789856805 | Email: enen@enenlegalworld.com or ambrosenen@gmail.com
enenlegalworld 