“Justice delayed, drama delivered: Inside Uganda’s week in court”
Last week’s courtrooms told a story that extended well beyond legal jargon and procedural motions.
From high-stakes land disputes and contested rape convictions in Uganda to the echo of past injustices in U.S. federal courts, justice moved forward, staggered at times, determined at others. What unfolded was a series of human dramas, technical decisions, and powerful reminders of the law’s reach and its limitations.
IN UGANDA, LABOUR JUSTICE FINDS A VOICE
On July 7, Uganda’s Labour Industrial Court of Uganda delivered a quiet but firm victory to John Oringo, an agricultural machinery operator who took his employer, Dede Farming Tractors Uganda Ltd, to court over unpaid wages and a disputed employment contract.
In a ruling that cut through corporate denial and employer evasions, the court sided with Oringo, ordering compensation for salary arrears and damages. The company had argued the non-existence of its own employer entity to cancel the contract.
For Uganda’s growing agricultural sector—often plagued by informal work arrangements—this decision is a signal. The courts are paying attention, and workers have more leverage than they might think.
MUGE V. HOUSING FINANCE BANK
Also on July 7, the Commercial division of the High court began proceedings in what may become a significant financial sector case: Muge James v. Housing Finance Bank Ltd.
While the final judgment is pending, the case points to a broader tension playing out across Uganda’s financial system—how far must banks go to protect their borrowers, and where does responsibility truly lie?
The courtroom is increasingly becoming a forum for testing the boundaries of financial accountability, in a country where credit access and trust in institutions remain fragile.
A SIGNATURE AND 200 ACRES
On July 8, the Supreme Court rejected a request for an interim stay by Muhamadi Kamoga, who is facing criminal charges linked to a massive 200-acre land dispute in Garuga. The case hinges on accusations that Kamoga forged transfer forms and used them to register the land in his name.
According to the state, one of the forged documents bore the name of Peter Bibangamba and was submitted at the Wakiso Lands office. Though the dismissed application was procedural, it sent a larger message: Uganda’s top court is becoming increasingly unwilling to tolerate legal delays in complex criminal matters.
Legal observers say the move may be part of a wider effort to unclog the appeals system and restore faith in timely justice.
RAPE OR DEFILEMENT?
Perhaps the most emotionally charged development came with the Supreme court’s decision to quash the conviction of Moses Kabareebe, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2019 for allegedly raping Juliet Akello, a domestic worker.
Kabareebe’s appeal centered on investigative flaws and contradictory testimony. But the court went further, suggesting there may have been a misclassification of the charge—raising the question of whether this was a case of rape or defilement, two legally distinct offences in Uganda.
The ruling raises uncomfortable questions about how sexual offences are prosecuted, especially in lower courts. It also points to the ongoing need for proper training in evidence handling and legal interpretation—areas where lives and reputations often hang in the balance.
THE JOAN KAGEZI MURDER CASE
The murder trial of Joan Kagezi, the senior state prosecutor assassinated in 2015, resumed with a moment that played like courtroom theatre. One of the accused, police officer Abdul Noor Ssemujju, alias Minana, had previously appeared in court so weak he had to be supported to stand.
A medical exam was ordered. Two weeks later, he walked into the courtroom unassisted. The Uganda Prisons Service report concluded there were no signs of torture—only mild back pain and ulcers. But Minana protested, claiming he hadn’t been properly examined and had received only paracetamol while in detention.
State Prosecutor Richard Biriv- umbuka dismissed the claims as an attempt to discredit security agencies: “There’s no evidence of torture. What we are seeing is an attempt to blackmail Uganda’s security institutions.”
Grade One Magistrate Daphine Ayebare upheld the medical findings and advised Minana to appeal through a higher court. The trial continues, haunted by shadows of violence and lingering distrust.
DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST PASTOR KAYANJA
At the Magistrate’s court in Mengo, another long-running case tested the court’s resolve. Six of nine young defendants accused of defaming high-profile city pastor Robert Kayanja were warned in no uncertain terms: present your defense, or face consequences.
The defendants are accused of falsely reporting to police that they were sodomized at Rubaga Miracle Centre cathedral. Medical reports have not supported the claims. The latest delay came after one of the defense lawyers called in sick.
But the prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, wasn’t buying it.
“With due respect, we are opposed to the adjournment,” Muwaganya said in court.
“It is not being sought in good faith.” The accused have declined to testify under oath. The court has signaled it is running out of patience, as repeated disruptions risk derailing the case’s already troubled timeline.
AGNES NANDUTU MISSES COURT AGAIN
Finally, in a case that continues to captivate public attention, former state minister for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu was issued a stern summons by the Anti-Corruption court.
Nandutu, who is accused of diverting iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Karamoja, has now missed four court appearances.
This time, Acting Principal Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga gave her a hard deadline: appear in court on July 24 or face a possible revocation of her bail. Her high-profile sureties—MPs Gerald Nangoli and Nathan Nandala-Mafabi, as well as Bududa district chairperson Milton Kamooti—were also notably absent.
Prosecutor David Bisamunyu requested the summons, citing frustration over repeated delays attributed to illness. Judge Kajuga’s message was clear-cut: accountability must be enforced, no matter how high the office held.
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