COURT (UGNEWSLINE) – A dispute over who should administer two family estates involving Mpigi High Court Judge Deepa Verma has delayed after the Principal Judge reportedly summoned the case file before a scheduled court session could take place.
The matter was due for mention before the High Court Family Division Deputy Registrar, Samuel Olumo, on Wednesday, but the parties left without receiving directions after discovering that the file was no longer with the registry.
Applicant Bunny Wallia said they had arrived at court for the 3pm session only to be informed that the Principal Judge had requested the file.
“We were supposed to appear before the Deputy Registrar at 3:00pm for summons for directions, but unfortunately the file had been called by the Principal Judge,” Wallia said.
Wallia said the parties were now waiting for communication from the Principal Judge’s chambers on how the matter would proceed.
The reason for requesting the file and the nature of any anticipated directions remain unknown. Court has also not communicated a fresh date for the proceedings.
The case was brought by Wallia and Jaspal Ahluwalia against Justice Verma, the Administrator General and another family member.
It challenges the process through which Verma and Jassa Wallia obtained permission to begin administering the estates of the late Ahluwalia Gudo and Zura Mama Kasuku.
The applicants’ complaint centres on Certificates of No Objection issued by the Administrator General, Victor Manzi, on June 15, 2026, which they say were obtained through a process that excluded some family members.
Court documents indicate that the process started on June 12, 2026, when files concerning the two estates were opened at the Office of the Administrator General.
On that day, Manzi allegedly held a family meeting attended by only four people. Wallia and Jaspal claim they were not invited, despite having interests in the deceased persons’ estates.
They argue that decisions on who should administer the properties should not have been made through a meeting that left out other potential beneficiaries.
The applicants are also questioning why a serving High Court judge was involved in seeking authority to administer the estates. They want the court to establish whether Verma disclosed her judicial position during the process and whether her status had any bearing on the issuance of the certificates.
They maintain that their case is not intended to challenge judicial independence but to establish whether the administrative process was transparent and free from any conflict of interest.
The suit further raises concerns that certain properties may have been wrongly included among the assets of the deceased.
The estates are reportedly made up of properties in Mbarara City, including premises occupied by Manji Memorial Secondary School.
After obtaining the certificates, Verma and Wallia filed two administration cases in the Family Division: Administration Cause No. 599 of 2026 for the estate of Gudo and Administration Cause No. 600 of 2026 for that of Kasuku.
Wallia and Jaspal say they discovered these proceedings on July 10, 2026, after notices were published in the New Vision newspaper.
They argue that the process was already underway without their knowledge, putting the interests of other potential beneficiaries at risk.
They are concerned that the properties could be disposed of before all beneficiaries have been identified and their claims considered.
The applicants want the High Court to invalidate the Certificates of No Objection, declare the process leading to their issuance unlawful and require the Administrator General to conduct a fresh exercise to establish the rightful beneficiaries and administrators.
They are also seeking orders stopping the respondents from selling, transferring, mortgaging or otherwise dealing with the disputed properties until the estates are lawfully administered.
The suit additionally seeks damages, interest and legal costs. The value of the properties in dispute is estimated at more than Shs210 million.
