A High Court Judge at Mpigi, Deepa Verma, has been sued together with the Administrator General and another family member over the contested administration of the estates of the late Zura Mama Kasuku and Ahluwalia Gudo. Verma is the second respondent in Civil Suit No. 296 of 2026, filed before the Family Division in Kampala, by Bunny Wallia and Ahluwalia Jaspal who claim to be members of the families of the deceased persons and say they have legitimate interests in the two estates.
The applicants are challenging the process through which Certificates of No Objection were issued by the Administrator General in favour of Verma and Jassa Wallia, before the two proceeded to the High Court to commence administration proceedings. According to the case filed by M/s Lukwago, Matovu & Co. Advocates, the dispute arose on June 12, 2026, when Verma and Wallia allegedly caused, procured or participated in the opening and processing of files relating to the estates at the Office of the Administrator General.
The applicants say that the same day, Administrator General Victor Manzi conducted or supervised a purported family meeting concerning the two estates but allege that only four people attended.
Bunny and Jaspal claim they were neither invited nor notified about the meeting and that other family members and people with legitimate interests in the estates were also excluded. They contend that the meeting was therefore not representative of the wider family and could not fairly determine who should administer the estates without taking into account the interests of other known family members and beneficiaries.
Three days later, on June 15, 2026, the Administrator General allegedly issued Certificates of No Objection in favour of Verma and Wallia concerning the estates of the late Ahluwalia Gudo and Zura Mama Kasuku. The said estates located in Mbarara City include one that houses Manji Memorial Secondary School.
Bunny and Jaspal now want the High Court to examine the circumstances under which the certificates were issued, including whether sufficient evidence of the deaths was presented and verified, whether the required introductory and recommendation letters were obtained, and whether all known family members and beneficiaries were identified.
They also want the court to establish whether they were notified of the family meeting, whether the meeting was properly convened and representative, and whether all relevant information concerning the beneficiaries and properties belonging to the estates was disclosed. Bunny and Jaspal further allege that property which does not form part of either deceased person’s estate may have been included or represented as estate property. They argue that the Administrator General had a statutory and administrative duty to properly inquire into the relevant circumstances before issuing the Certificates of No Objection.
The suit states that following the issuance of the certificates, Verma and Wallia commenced administration proceedings in the High Court Family Division in Administration Cause No. 599 of 2026, concerning the estate of the late Ahluwalia Gudo, and Administration Cause No. 600 of 2026, concerning the estate of the late Zura Mama Kasuku.
The applicants say they were not aware that the proceedings had been commenced and only discovered them on or about July 10, 2026, when notices concerning the cases were published in the New Vision newspaper. They contend that they were consequently placed in a position where proceedings concerning estates in which they have a legitimate interest had already commenced without their prior knowledge or participation.
The applicants have particularly raised questions about Verma’s involvement, given that she is a serving High Court Judge at Mpigi. They state that they do not seek to interfere with the independence of the Judiciary or prejudge any matter pending before another judicial officer.
However, they argue that the involvement of a serving judicial officer in seeking administration of family estates raises legitimate questions regarding transparency, propriety, disclosure and the appearance of a conflict of interest. Bunny and Jaspal want the court to establish whether Verma’s judicial status was disclosed during the processing of the estates and whether any official position, influence or prestige was invoked, directly or indirectly, in obtaining the Certificates of No Objection.
They also want the court to investigate whether there was any improper communication or collaboration between the defendants and whether information submitted to the Administrator General was complete and accurate.
The plaintiffs list several alleged irregularities, including the convening of a family meeting without notifying them, exclusion of other known family members, the issuance of the Certificates of No Objection only three days after the meeting, alleged failure to adequately verify supporting documents and failure to give interested beneficiaries an opportunity to raise objections.
They have also raised allegations requiring investigation for possible fraud and concealment of material facts, including alleged concealment of the existence and interests of other family members, failure to disclose their interests, allegedly presenting a limited family meeting as representative of the wider family and possible inclusion of property that may not lawfully belong to either estate. The plaintiffs, however, ask the court to determine these matters through examination of the relevant Administrator General’s and court files and evidence from the persons involved.
They say they are apprehensive that the estates could be administered without the participation of lawful beneficiaries and that people who are not entitled to administer them could obtain letters of administration.
They also fear that properties belonging to the estates could be sold, transferred, charged or otherwise dealt with before their interests are determined. The applicants have therefore asked the High Court to declare the process leading to the issuance of the Certificates of No Objection irregular, unlawful or procedurally defective and to set aside or quash the certificates issued in favour of Verma and Wallia.
They are also seeking orders preserving the two estates and restraining Verma and Wallia, their agents or representatives from selling, transferring, charging, disposing of or otherwise dealing with property forming part of the estates pending lawful administration. The applicants want the court to order a fresh process for identifying the beneficiaries and persons entitled to administer the estates, with all people having legitimate interests given an opportunity to participate.
They are further seeking general, aggravated and/or exemplary damages, interest, costs of the suit and any other relief the court considers just. The value of the subject matter of the suit is stated to be more than 210 million shillings. Lady Justice Deepa Verma, together with Jassa Wallia and the Administrator General have already been issued with court summons requiring them to file their defence to these accusations against them within 15 days before the matter can be heard. The case is allocated to Judge Celia Nagawa-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
