Summary:
- The MPs accuse Ssemakade of making vulgar and derogatory comments about the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo, and of dragging Karamoja into his attacks.
KAMPALA: A group of MPs from the Karamoja Sub-region is demanding the resignation of Isaac Ssemakade, President of the Uganda Law Society, along with an immediate public apology.
The MPs accuse Ssemakade of making vulgar and derogatory comments about the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo, and of dragging Karamoja into his attacks.
The MPs made these demands during a press briefing on Friday at Parliament. John Baptist Lokii, MP for Matheniko County, expressed outrage over Ssemakade’s comments, questioning if he was “born through an anus” rather than the usual way, implying this could explain his offensive remarks about the DPP’s genitals.
“This isn’t just an insult to Abodo, but to all women worldwide,” Lokii said. “It’s an insult to God’s creation, as He ordained that both a woman and a man should bring life into the world. If someone can so callously abuse that creation, they must be a demon. Is Ssemakade trying to tell us that he didn’t come into this world through the usual means? Did he come into this world through another opening? Maybe he came through the anus; he should tell us,” Lokii continued.
He went on to condemn Ssemakade’s remarks as vile and inappropriate, emphasizing that such language could only come from someone with a “diabolical” mindset.
He further criticized Ssemakade for his history of targeting the DPP, pointing out that he had previously attacked her when she was appointed, yet the public had dismissed his comments, hoping he would change.
Lokii urged Ssemakade to choose his words more carefully and refrain from vulgarity, especially when expressing grievances.
“We cannot allow this to continue,” Lokii added. “The first time we overlooked it, hoping he would reform. Now, with the platform he has been given, he is using it to insult many people. The people of Karamoja, the people of Uganda, demand an immediate apology and the resignation of the President of the Uganda Law Society. He has become a disgrace to the people of Uganda and to the legal profession. What will he say next? He has shamed the whole country.”
Faith Nakut, MP for Napak District, also voiced her disapproval. While acknowledging Ssemakade’s desire to reform the Uganda Law Society, she strongly criticized his choice of words, saying they had made the people of Karamoja uncomfortable.
She emphasized the struggle of women from Karamoja, such as DPP Abodo, who rise to such important positions despite significant challenges.
“For a woman from Karamoja to rise to the position of DPP, it’s no easy feat,” Nakut remarked. “She has gone through so much to get there. It is wrong to ridicule her after all that effort.” She expressed discomfort with Ssemakade’s repeated attacks on the DPP, particularly his vulgar references to her genitalia and his inappropriate comments about Karamoja.
Nakut questioned why Ssemakade didn’t find more appropriate ways to express his concerns, if his aim was to improve the DPP’s performance. “I’ve always known that lawyers are brilliant and capable of addressing performance issues without resorting to insults and vulgarity. Why are we lowering ourselves to this level? Why drag Karamoja into this? I am here to condemn those remarks and demand an immediate public apology. If we are to continue respecting that profession, an apology is required, and it must be given immediately.”
Joseph Komol, MP for Dodoth North, also joined the criticism, calling the vulgar and derogatory comments against both Abodo and Karamoja “surprising” and “shocking.”
He added, “What Ssemakade said has shocked the entire Karamoja region. People are saying, this is madness. I think Ssemakade is mad.”
The MPs’ statements have sparked a debate on the use of appropriate language in public discourse and the need for respect in addressing grievances.
