Former Chief Justice Owiny Dollo has refuted claims that he is the one behind the troubles that Uganda Law Society president Senior counsel Isaac Ssemakadde is going through noting that he is ready to provide a tangible solution to save him.
Appearing on counsel Elison Karuhanga’s Judicial Service Conversation space, a tough speaking Dollo further denied claims that he is the one fuelling and benefiting from the ongoing fights between lawyers and judges because he has personal issues with maverick Ssemakadde.
He defended himself saying that the issue that brought differences between him and Ssemakadde is not personal adding that even his successor Dr Flavian Zeija will continue shielding and fighting for judicial officers from being attacked by people like Ssemakadde.
He assured lawyers that his absence is going to change nothing regarding their relationship with the judiciary.
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He explained that the only solution to the ongoing fight is through dialogue where by both parties have to agree to respect each other since they are playing in some field and need each other’s support to succeed.
He assured lawyers and Ssemakadde in particular that he is available to spearhead the process of solving his troubles given that he has already put in place steps to be followed.
These steps also include engaging the Karamojong women who are bitter with the statements made by Ssemakadde against their daughter the Principal Judge, Justice Jane Frances Abodo when she was still the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)
Dollo added that it is not only Karamojong women but also the men are bitter with Ssemakadde and wanted to fight because he abused their daughter by calling her a vagina. He divulged that the only way they can calm down is by Ssemakadde accepting his proposal to lead him to the Karamajong so that he personally apologise to them.
He maintained that he understands the bitterness the people of Karamoja have arguing that a boy or a man would fight if their mother is attacked because mothers mean a lot.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Norbert Mao was the first to show interest in leadimg Ssemakadde’s negotiations revealing that all stakeholders including the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka and Justice Dollo who are alleged to be in the middle of his troubles accepted the talks.
Ssemakadde ran to exile after being sentenced by the then judge of the High Court Civil Division Musa Ssekaana to two years in prison on contempt of court charges.
Then Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi also issued an international arrest warrant against Ssemakadde after fellow lawyers Joshua Byamazima and Tonny Tumukunde instituted criminal proceeding against him for using vulgar language against Justice Abodo.
Ssemadde’s friends led by Atabua Letia Shamil pleaded for a presidential pardon but the prayer was dismissed by the Advisory Committee of the Prerogative of Mercy on grounds that he does not qualify to be pardoned by the President.
The developments come at a time when Ssemakadde’s extended six months in office as President of ULS are reaching the end in March this year even though his comrades are still struggling to save him from life in exile.
