Uganda Law Society condemns killing of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu, says East Africa’s rule of law under siege
In a statement released on Thursday, ULS President Isaac K. Ssemakadde said Mbobu’s death was “not merely a loss to the legal fraternity but a grievous wound to the soul of justice in East Africa.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has condemned the assassination of Advocate Mathew Kyalo Mbobu in Nairobi while raising an alarm over a growing wave of extrajudicial killings and abductions in East Africa. ULS described it as a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by lawyers who defend justice.
Mbobu was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on Tuesday, September 9, while stuck in traffic along Magadi Road near the Galleria Brookside area in Karen.
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The attack, carried out by assailants on a motorcycle, saw the shooter break his windshield and fire multiple shots, killing him instantly. The killing has sparked outrage across Kenya’s legal community.
In a statement released on Thursday, ULS President Isaac K. Ssemakadde said Mbobu’s death was “not merely a loss to the legal fraternity but a grievous wound to the soul of justice in East Africa.
"We join the LSK in mourning the loss of a legal titan whose three decades of practice, scholarly contributions, and public service as Chairperson of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal enriched Kenya's legal and governance landscape," the statement reads in part.
"This heinous act, bearing the hallmarks of a premeditated assassination, is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern of extralegal abductions, enforced disappearances, torture, and targeted killings sweeping across our region," the ULS added.
The society highlighted that Uganda has experienced similar violations, where citizens, activists, and professionals have been abducted, tortured, or killed. These acts, the ULS said, strike at the heart of the rule of law, erode public trust in governance, and threaten democratic foundations.
“The decline in the rule of law across our region-marked by abductions, torture, and targeted killings-signals a troubling erosion of governance. In Uganda, we have seen political opponents, journalists, and activists vanish into the shadows of unmarked vehicles, their fates unknown, while families are left in anguish. These acts of violence are not mere "shortcomings" but crimes against humanity that demand urgent redress," the ULS stated.
The society called upon the governments of Uganda, Kenya, and other East African nations to uphold their constitutional obligations, dismantle systems of impunity, and restore the sanctity of the rule of law.
“We call on governments, security agencies, and regional bodies to act decisively to protect legal practitioners and safeguard civic space.”
The society also pledged its solidarity with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) following its nationwide Purple Ribbon March on Friday, September 12, to demand justice for Mbobu.
ULS said it will observe its 16th Annual Rule of Law Week from September 15 to 19, encouraging Ugandan advocates to wear purple ribbons in support of their Kenyan colleagues.
"To our colleagues in Kenya, we say: Your fight is our fight. The Purple Ribbon March is a powerful symbol of resistance against the normalisation of violence and a clarion call for justice. In solidarity, the ULS will observe the 16th Annual Rule of Law Week (September 15-19, 2025) by calling on advocates nationwide to wear purple ribbons, alongside our prescheduled activities."
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