Uganda Judges Reject Lawyer's 'Bow Out' Demand

Uganda's judiciary has publicly opposed a recent directive issued by the Uganda Law Society (ULS). The ULS had instructed its members to abandon the practice of bowing before judges and to stop using honorific titles such as 'My Lord' or 'My Lady.'

According to the ULS, these "feudal and colonial honorifics" create an unnecessary hierarchy, suggesting judicial officers are elevated above the citizens they serve. The society views these "archaic" practices as contributing to the system's failures and forcing Ugandans into "postures of humiliation."

However, judiciary spokesperson James Ereemye dismissed the ULS directive, asserting that the judiciary, as an independent arm of government, cannot be dictated to by outside bodies. He stated that the courts would continue to "demand the known decorum" from legal practitioners. Ereemye criticized the ULS for overstepping its bounds and lacking understanding of administrative principles.

This controversy in Uganda is part of a larger, ongoing discussion across several African nations. Countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Ghana have also grappled with debates about retaining or reforming colonial-era courtroom traditions, including attire and forms of address, to better suit modern African contexts.