Accusations are mounting against Godfrey Kalule Kirumira, the Namibian Consul in Uganda, over claims that he is undermining the country’s judicial system. At the center of the storm is a land case involving Liberty ICD at Mukono High Court, which has faced years of unexplained delays and suspicious legal maneuvering.
According to Liberty ICD’s legal team, represented by K&K Advocates, Kirumira has intentionally avoided appearing in court for over three years. They argue this tactic is being used to drag out the case, buying time while frustrating the other party involved.
The controversy deepened on May 9, 2025, when Justice David Matovu had instructed both sides to present their witnesses and case files. However, in a shocking turn, the court clerk suddenly announced that the case had been reassigned to another judge, Justice Jacqueline Mwondha, without any prior notice or formal documentation.
This abrupt change happened while the Deputy Registrar, Hussein Ntalo Nasulu, was reportedly away attending a burial. The unusual development sent lawyers and court officials scrambling for answers. After investigations, Assistant Registrar Eunice Maureen Ijang admitted that the transfer of the case was a mistake and that proper procedure had not been followed. She also revealed this directly to both legal teams and the media.
Despite her admission, Registrar Nasulu later took surprising steps. On May 15, 2025, he suddenly issued fresh summons for all parties to appear in court on May 22. Notably, even though the case was scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Nasulu met with Kirumira’s lawyer, Francis Ssebbowa, earlier that morning. He then rushed through a brief court session and left, claiming he had to return to the burial.
Liberty ICD’s lawyer, raised concerns about how the registrar planned to ensure Kirumira finally appears in court. Since the case began in 2022, Kirumira has never attended a single session. Past judges, including Justices David Matovu and David Batema, repeatedly pressured Ssebbowa to bring his client to court—to no avail.
There are further suspicions that files for Civil Suit No. 322 of 2021 were being handled inappropriately. Isingoma accused Kirumira’s side of using delaying tactics and trying to manipulate the court system to shift the case to a more favorable judge. These claims are supported by a troubling pattern of postponements and procedural errors, which Liberty ICD believes are intentional.
The heart of the land dispute is a plot at Namanve Industrial Park, a major investment area. Liberty ICD claims Kirumira’s methods have stalled development and scared off investors. They also allege serious fraud in the documents supporting Kirumira’s land ownership.
According to court records, Kirumira bought the land (locally known as a “Kibanja”) from a man named Yokana Galikwoleka. However, Galikwoleka reportedly died in 1996, 25 years before the deal was signed. A forensic report by police in Naguru shows that the thumbprint on the agreement was fake. It was allegedly created by Kirumira’s employee, Muwonge, who admitted to forging the deal at Jokas Hotel in 2021.
Further reports show that Kirumira paid just 1.2 million shillings in stamp duty instead of the 550 million required—a move considered illegal and fraudulent. Kirumira defends his position by claiming that he acquired the land from Capital Ventures International, which had defaulted on a 400 million shilling loan.
As the hearing date of May 22, 2025 approaches, pressure is mounting for Kirumira to finally appear in court. All eyes are now on the Deputy Registrar, who still has a chance to correct the situation by formally returning the case to the original judge, Justice Mubiru, and ensuring the matter is handled fairly and urgently.
