Uganda’s National Bar Association, known as the Uganda Law Society, issues a directive aimed at “abolishing colonial court culture.” According to multiple reports, the order is tied to Saba Saba Day, an East African commemoration of resistance against authoritarianism. The directive takes effect immediately and instructs lawyers to stop bowing to judges or engaging in other forms of physical deference before judicial officers. It also abolishes colonial-era honorifics such as “My Lord,” “Your Lordship,” “My Lady,” “Your Ladyship,” and “Your Worship.” Instead, the bar says lawyers should address judicial officers using locally framed designations, including “Mr. Justice” or “Madam Justice” for appellate court judges, “Mr. Judge” or “Madam Judge” for High Court judges, and “Mr. Magistrate” or “Madam Magistrate” for magistrates, with allowance to use surnames where appropriate. The bar links the reforms to concerns about judicial independence and service delivery, citing issues including executive interference, delays, corruption, and alleged military actions affecting lawyers and civilians. The directive also announces plans for nationwide consultations over judicial dress, courtroom language, and related practices, and to review parts of the judiciary’s client charter to ensure plain-language protections for citizens.
Uganda Law Society orders lawyers to stop bowing and using “My Lord” titles in court
Uganda’s National Bar Association, known as the Uganda Law Society, issues a directive aimed at “abolishing colonial court culture.” According to multiple reports, the order is tied to Saba Saba Day,...
- Uganda Law Society issues a directive titled around abolishing “colonial court culture,” effective immediately.
- Lawyers are told to stop bowing or showing physical subservience to judicial officers.
- Colonial-era honorifics like “My Lord” and “My Lady” are abolished; court titles should be replaced with specified alternatives (e.g., “Mr. Justice,” “Mr. Judge,” “Mr. Magistrate”).
- The directive is linked to Saba Saba Day.
- Plans are announced for nationwide consultation to review judicial dress, courtroom language, and related practices, including the client charter.
Lawyers are calling for an end to traditions like bowing before judges and addressing them as "My Lord or "My Lady".
2 hours agoThis is his latest attempt to change what he calls the colonial structure of Uganda's justice system. The post Uganda Law Society abolishes use of My Lord, My Lady, bans bowing to judges appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
1 day agoThe Uganda Bar Association has directed its members to stop bowing to judges and discontinue the use of colonial-era honorifics in courts. The directive, which took effect immediately, was contained in an executive order issued on Tuesday and signed by Isaac Ssemakadde, president of the bar. The order was issued to coincide with Saba Saba Day, which commemorates resistance against authoritarianism in East Africa. In the statement, the bar association said Uganda’s judiciary is suffering from executive interference, prolonged delays in dispensing justice, judicial corruption, selective justice, and attacks on lawyers. It also accused the military of undermining judicial independence through unlawful arrests, court invasions, detention of civilians, obstruction of lawyers and journalists, and the trial of civilians before military tribunals. The association argued that these problems have been sustained by what it described as an outdated colonial court culture that places judicial officers above citizens through compulsory displays of deference. Under the directive, lawyers are prohibited from bowing or engaging in any other form of physical subservience before judicial officers. The association also abolished the use of titles including “My Lord”, “Your Lordship”, “My Lady”, “Your Ladyship”, and “Your Worship”. Instead, members were directed to address judicial officers as “Mr. Justice” or “Madam Justice” for appellate court judges, “Mr. Judge” or “Madam Judge” for High Court judges, and “Mr. Magistrate” or “Madam Magistrate” for magistrates. They may also address judicial officers by their surnames where appropriate. The bar further directed lawyers and litigants to “stand upright and speak as free citizens”, saying members should no longer observe court rituals that subject citizens to humiliation while elevating public officials. As part of the reforms, the association announced plans to begin a nationwide consultation within 90 days to review judicial dress, language and courtroom practices. The consultation will examine the continued use of colonial wigs, gowns and foreign-language requirements, with a view to adopting alternatives that better reflect Uganda’s history, climate and culture. It will also review the judiciary’s client charter to ensure it is written in plain language and guarantees citizens’ rights to respect, timely service, access to information and effective redress.
1 day agoThe National Bar Association in Uganda (otherwise known as the Uganda Law Society) has officially abolished what it labeled feudal and colonial practices in the courtrooms. A directive issued to the effect, titled ‘Abolition of Colonial Court Culture,’ coincided with the Saba Saba Day, the East African commemoration of resistance against authoritarianism. Lawyers and litigants […] Uganda Bar abolishes ‘colonial’ courtroom bow, ‘My Lord’ title
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