Humanist

This morning as I enjoyed a late breakfast in my garden, scrolling through X, I happened on a post in which it is asserted that lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde is morally bankrupt. Say what?

As a cultural anthropologist I often take interest in conversations about morality and what is considered immoral. My learning, one thing is for certain, morality and defacto moral bankruptcy is relative. It isn’t universal. Nor is it absolute. It depends.

She who asserted Isaac is morally bankrupt gave examples of those she considered morally upright and with morals. Other X users immediately called her out on one of them, her examples of those with morals.

She clarified supporting her choice example. However, whom she seemingly acknowledges as morally wanting at present. She clarifried that she was referring to her choice of him “of old”, whatever that means 😳

To be morally bankrupt, one is considered among those who are unethical in their conduct and practice.

How is Isaac unethical?

It would surprise many, indeed, if the assertion he is morally bankrupt holds true.

In essence, the epi-centre of his platform, of his campaign to be elected the next president of the Uganda Law Society, is exactly that. He professes intention and pledges to fight against moral bankruptcy within the judiciary in particular and our country as a whole.

Critiques of Isaac seem in agreement that he is endowed with a great legal mind. The fear they have, seemingly, as deduced from their pronouncements, is of his unconventional style.

He is an in-your-face lawyer who speaks truth to power, using vivid and colourful language, which doesn’t attempt to hide his disdain for the powerful who abuse their positions of power.

He is an advocate for the right to insult, especially leaders, by rights holders dissatisfied with duty bearer’s abuse of office or non performance. This, in my view, doesn’t support the assertion that he is morally bankrupt.

I denote the assertion that he is morally  bankrupt is borne of his fashion sense as well. Here is a photo of him which effectively carries my point.

His style discomforts those who have internalized a euro-centric view of the ‘proper manners’ for a lawyer. To categorize him morally bankrupt because he challenges the status quo is ignorant, for lack of a better word.

Moreover, it is important to note that Isaac’s reputation precedes him, as among top legal warriors for the underdog and the greater good.

Often he has taken on public litigation for the greater good. In many instances, taking on cases, public interest litigation, that his peers shy away from. It is valid to assume he will continue to do so even as the President of the Uganda Law Society.

At present, his critiques have not adduced substantive and valid evidence that meets the burden of proof to support their assertion that he is morally bankrupt.

It would appear, instead, that they are on a Machiavellian smear campaign to impede his success in his bid to be democratically elected by his peers as the next president of the Uganda Law Society.