The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has taken disciplinary action against Masaka High Court deputy registrar Cissy Mudhasi Kawuma and chief magistrate Ruth Nabaasa, dismissing both officials for professional misconduct.
According to a statement from the JSC, Kawuma was found guilty of misusing her judicial authority by authorizing the attachment of funds from accounts belonging to Makerere University, the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council, and a private individual without adhering to established legal procedures. Furthermore, she allegedly ignored directives from the Chief Justice by proceeding with execution proceedings during the COVID-19 lockdown, a period when such actions were prohibited.
Meanwhile, Nabaasa was dismissed for handling a case beyond her legal jurisdiction. She reportedly failed to comply with a High Court judge’s directive to determine property values, which would have clarified whether the matter was within her mandate.
In 2020, Kawuma was interdicted by then-acting Chief Registrar Tom Chemutai due to allegations of improper conduct, including delivering substandard work and engaging in activities that tarnished the reputation of the judiciary. Investigations revealed that she had allegedly colluded with lawyers Akleo Mugisha and Martha Orishaba, along with RAM Engineering Company director Julius Mugambagye, to fraudulently divert Shs 3.5 billion from Makerere University’s Stanbic Bank account.
Records indicate that Kawuma issued ex parte court orders authorizing the withdrawal of funds to satisfy a questionable arbitration ruling in favor of RAM Engineering Uganda Limited. However, no concrete evidence suggested that Makerere University owed the company money. This raised suspicions of a deliberate scheme to defraud the institution.
In 2021, she obtained a temporary injunction from the Civil Division of the High Court, preventing the Uganda Police Force and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit from further investigating the allegations. The ruling, issued by Justice Musa Ssekaana, argued that continuing the investigations posed a threat to Kawuma’s constitutional rights. However, her recent dismissal has now cleared the way for authorities to resume their inquiries.
The JSC has also dismissed Rakai Grade One Magistrate Latif Abubaker Nakibinge for financial misconduct. Investigations revealed that Nakibinge withdrew Shs 7 million from a Centenary Bank account linked to a civil case and failed to remit the funds to their rightful recipient, an advocate representing one of the parties.
Furthermore, Chief Magistrate Moses Kule Lubangula of Kamwenge was issued a severe reprimand for presiding over a case beyond the jurisdiction of a Grade One magistrate. His handling of the dispute between Mutesasira John and Mukasa Galiwango violated judicial directives, including a 2016 Chief Justice order prohibiting ex parte rulings without notifying the opposing party.
These disciplinary actions underscore the JSC’s commitment to upholding integrity within Uganda’s judiciary. With Kawuma’s dismissal, investigators can now proceed with the stalled inquiries into the financial misconduct case, potentially leading to further legal consequences for those involved.
As the judiciary continues to crack down on corruption and misconduct, these dismissals serve as a warning to judicial officers who engage in unethical practices, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in the legal system.
