The Uganda Law Society has announced the termination of all financial engagements with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, rejecting an unfulfilled USh5 billion pledge and reaffirming the institution’s independence from government influence.
In a detailed statement released on Thursday, March 19, 2026, the society denounced the 2018 pledge as a hollow gesture, highlighting a stark contrast between unkept promises to civil institutions and the growing expenditures of State House, including billions allocated to classified spending and donations.
The statement described the pledge as a hollow gesture, highlighting a broader pattern of government spending on State House donations and classified items, which the society said undermines accountability and public welfare. It argued that reliance on government generosity risks eroding the independence of the Bar, fostering perceptions of compromise, and undermining its role as a defender of constitutional rights.
"The independence of the Bar is paramount to the administration of justice and the protection of constitutional rights, and any reliance on governmental largesse risks eroding this independence, fostering perceptions of compromise, and diminishing the profession's role as a bulwark against executive overreach," the statement read in part.
The society also pointed to wastefulness during the 2021 and 2026 general elections, citing excessive spending on security crackdowns, voter suppression, and electoral manipulation as examples of prioritising patronage over public welfare.
"All forms of supplication, solicitation, or dependency on financial pledges or donations from the President of the Republic of Uganda, in his capacity as Head of State or Chairperson of the National Resistance Movement, are hereby terminated forthwith. The ULS shall no longer pursue, acknowledge, or rely upon the unfulfilled 2018 pledge or any similar inducements that could imperil the Bar's independence,” the statement read.
The society further revoked all mandates previously issued to envoys, representatives, or delegates tasked with soliciting government funding, instructing that no further engagements in this regard be authorised. Instead, Uganda’s Law Society said it would redirect its focus toward reforming financial provisions under the Advocates Act, the Uganda Law Society Act, and relevant civil and criminal laws to enhance the earning capacity of advocates and the society itself, ensuring long-term independence.
"All mandates previously issued to envoys, representatives, or delegates of the ULS for the purpose of soliciting, negotiating, or pursuing the aforementioned pledge or any related governmental funding are hereby revoked and terminated. No further engagements in this regard shall be authorised or undertaken," the society stated.
The statement highlighted that the near completion of ULS House was achieved entirely through voluntary member contributions, personal sacrifices, and disciplined leadership rather than government support. The society described this milestone as a testament to self-reliance, probity, and ethical conduct, setting a precedent for future generations of lawyers and other professional bodies.
