KAMPALA, Uganda — Lawyers across Uganda on Friday boycotted court proceedings in a coordinated protest organised by the Uganda Law Society (ULS), citing what they described as growing incidents of torture, intimidation and human rights violations targeting advocates while carrying out their professional duties.
The industrial action coincided with the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and was intended to demonstrate solidarity with torture victims while drawing attention to concerns about the safety and independence of the legal profession.
Legal practitioners participating in the boycott argued that advocates have increasingly become targets of harassment and abuse, particularly when handling politically sensitive and human rights-related cases.
Speaking during the boycott, advocate Kato Tumusiime said the protest reflected concerns affecting the entire legal fraternity and not only lawyers representing victims of torture or human rights abuses.
“We have joined members of the Uganda Law Society to strike against the way advocates are being treated while carrying out their work. This is not just about lawyers representing victims of torture and human rights violations; it is about every advocate because we have all become targets,” Tumusiime said.
He questioned whether the judiciary could effectively safeguard the rights of ordinary citizens if legal practitioners themselves were unable to operate without fear of intimidation or abuse.
“If the judiciary cannot protect advocates, who are officers of the court, how will it protect victims of torture who come before it seeking justice?” he asked.
Tumusiime argued that lawyers cannot adequately represent victims of torture and other rights violations while facing threats to their own safety.
“Not until we are safe, we cannot adequately protect our clients,” he said.
He further warned that continued inaction could have broader implications for the administration of justice and the independence of Uganda’s judicial institutions.
“If they fail to fight while they still have the opportunity, there may come a time when judges and judicial officers themselves are captured, tortured, or even killed. The independence of the judiciary is at stake,” he cautioned.
While acknowledging that the industrial action would disrupt court operations and affect litigants, the lawyers maintained that the boycott was necessary to push for reforms and stronger institutional protections for advocates.
“We know this strike affects the daily work of the judiciary and the people we represent, but they should understand that until advocates are protected, justice itself is compromised,” Tumusiime said.
He indicated that the protest would not be limited to a single day, saying lawyers would continue withdrawing their services until their concerns are addressed.
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“This is only the beginning. We shall continue until the judiciary hears our plight, hears our cry, and answers the questions we are raising,” he added.
The lawyers also renewed calls for stronger action against torture and other forms of human rights abuse, arguing that such practices are incompatible with constitutional governance and the rule of law.
“As a nation, we must come together and say no to torture. It has no place in our Constitution and no place in the daily lives of Ugandans,” Tumusiime said.
The boycott comes amid growing concern within Uganda’s legal community over the treatment of lawyers involved in high-profile political and human rights cases.
In recent months, the Uganda Law Society has repeatedly raised concerns about the alleged harassment and intimidation of advocates, warning that attacks on legal practitioners undermine access to justice, weaken public confidence in the legal system and threaten the rule of law.
The judiciary had not publicly responded to the boycott by the time of publication
