By Masejele Sulaiman
MBALE — Lawyers under the Uganda Law Society (ULS) have vowed to continue their nationwide industrial action after a memorial prayer service for victims of torture and human rights abuse was allegedly disrupted by police in Mbale City.
The lawyers had gathered at St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Friday to commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed globally under the theme, “There Must Be an End to Torture.” The service was intended to express solidarity with victims of torture, arbitrary detention, constitutional violations, intimidation, harassment, and other human rights abuses.
Addressing journalists after the aborted event, Counsel Eddy Nangulu, who led the delegation of lawyers and vice president Eastern Region, said the gathering was meant to reaffirm the legal fraternity’s commitment to the protection of human rights and the rule of law.
We brought our deepest prayers to the house of God, the true temple of justice, seeking redress at the altar of the Most High. However, moments before the service was due to begin, police were deployed around the church, and church leaders were reportedly warned against hosting our prayers. We were unable to pray or present our grievances before God, Nangulu said.
He described the incident as deeply disturbing, arguing that it reflected shrinking civic space in the country.
It is deeply saddening that even the house of God is no longer free. The place where we hoped to seek refuge had its doors closed to us. It is a terrible but telling reality of the day, he added.
The prayer service came amid the Uganda Law Society’s ongoing nationwide sit-down strike, launched on Thursday in protest against what the lawyers describe as escalating constitutional violations and human rights abuses.
Nangulu said law chambers across the country had remained closed and that the lawyers would not resume work until their concerns were addressed.
We have withdrawn our labour and shall not accept to practise law in a lawless country, he said.
According to Nangulu, the lawyers will continue suspending legal services and keeping their offices closed as part of their industrial action, which they say is intended to push for respect for constitutionalism, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights.
The atmosphere at the church reportedly became tense after a police patrol vehicle was seen near the premises. Some lawyers quickly left the area, while others reportedly sought refuge in nearby locations, fearing possible arrest.
By press time, police had not publicly responded to the lawyers’ allegations regarding the reported disruption of the prayer service.