Residents of Bugolobi Princess Anna Drive, together with their local council leadership, have dragged a retired Ugandan judge and International Court of Justice (ICJ) judge, Julia Sebutinde to court over the alleged illegal construction of a six-storey apartment block in a residential neighborhood, in what has become a high-profile test of compliance with Uganda’s building laws.

According to court documents seen by this website, the residents accuse Justice Sebutinde and her husband of violating the Building Control Act, 2013, which requires all major construction projects to obtain approval from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Building Committee before works commence.

The documents indicate that Justice Sebutinde sought clearance to erect a multi-storey apartment structure on Princess Anna Drive, Bugolobi. However, the KCCA Building Committee declined to grant approval, citing the proposed development’s incompatibility with the area’s residential zoning and provisions of the law.

Despite this objection, the residents say that Justice Sebutinde bypassed the Building Committee and instead obtained what they describe as an irregular construction license from the KCCA Director of Physical Planning on April 7, 2022, at a time when both neighbors and local leaders had formally objected to the project.

Court filings further show that the Bugolobi LC1 leadership wrote to KCCA in June 2022, formally opposing the development.

Despite this, construction commenced in August 2025, prompting renewed protests from the community.

In October 2025, the LC1 chairperson wrote another protest letter to KCCA, reiterating residents’ concerns.

On November 20, 2025, KCCA issued a directive ordering the immediate cessation of construction works.

However, according to affidavits filed by the residents, the directive was ignored, and construction intensified, with works continuing day and night in a bid to fast-track completion and roofing of the structure.

The matter has since escalated into two separate court cases. In the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, criminal summons were issued directing Justice Sebutinde to halt all construction activities and appear in court on January 6, 2026, for hearing. The summons were issued on December 22, 2025.

Simultaneously, the affected residents and community leaders have filed a civil suit under HCT-00CV-CS-0470-2025, seeking court intervention to enforce compliance with the Building Control Act. The High Court has directed Justice Sebutinde to file her defence in the matter.

The case has sparked intense public debate, with residents questioning the implications of alleged non-compliance by a senior judicial officer.

“If those entrusted with interpreting and upholding the law are seen to violate it, what message does that send to the ordinary citizen?” one resident asked.

Justice Sebutinde had not publicly responded to the allegations by press time. The courts are yet to determine the merits of both cases.