Five former members of the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands have dragged the club and its top leadership to the High Court in Kampala, challenging their expulsion and seeking declarations that the disciplinary process leading to their removal was unlawful, unconstitutional and procedurally flawed.
The applicants are Lawyers Ronald Samuel Wanda and Robert Byamukama, Nelson Turyatemba, John Martin Sekwe, Robert Byamukama and Gladys Edwards Namala.
They have filed their application against Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands Uganda Limited, club president Deborah Itwau Ongwech, Acting Secretary of the Board of Directors Bernard Ochan, Board Chairperson Dr. Canon Charles Kahigiriza, Disciplinary Committee Chairperson Medard Muganzi, committee members Julianne Mweheire, Nelson Kabwama, Laura Orobia, Leonard Babwetera Kashagama and Ivan Kasambeko.
The applicants contend that their membership was unlawfully terminated through letters dated April 28, 2026, following disciplinary proceedings they describe as irregular, biased and conducted in violation of both the Constitution and the club’s bylaws.
In their application before the Civil Division of the High Court, the former members argue that the disciplinary measures violated their rights to a fair hearing, equality before the law, freedom of expression, freedom of association and fair administrative treatment as guaranteed under the Constitution.
The applicants allege that the dispute has its roots in internal club disagreements that emerged during preparations for future club leadership elections. Ronald Samuel Wanda, an advocate and member of the club, states that in November 2025 he nominated fellow Rotarian Ivan Kasambeko to contest for the position of club president for the 2028–2029 Rotary year.
Wanda alleges that the nomination was opposed by Medard Muganzi, then Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee, who publicly challenged the nomination on the club’s official WhatsApp platform. Wanda says that while representing Kasambeko as an advocate, he described Muganzi’s repeated questions regarding the nomination as “verbal diarrhoea”, which he maintains was a lawful figure of speech protected under freedom of expression.
The applicants also raise a separate incident involving applicant Nelson Turyatemba, who allegedly shared a publicly circulating news article concerning club president Deborah Itwau Ongwech on the club’s WhatsApp forum. The applicants contend that Ongwech subsequently initiated criminal proceedings against Turyatemba under the offence of offensive communication, which they say was later declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.
According to the application, the five members were suspended on February 14, 2026, removed from both official and unofficial WhatsApp groups, and barred from club meetings, fellowships and activities before they were informed of the complaints against them.
In his supporting affidavit, Wanda states that at the time of his suspension, he had not been informed of any complaint against him and only learned of the allegations approximately ten days later. He further claims that despite serving on the club’s Management Board as Service Projects Director, no board meeting had been convened to discuss or approve the suspension before the decision was communicated to members.
Wanda also alleges that Medard Muganzi, whom he identifies as the complainant in his case, participated in and chaired the disciplinary process that resulted in his suspension.
He argues that this violated the fundamental principle of natural justice that prohibits a person from acting as both complainant and judge in the same matter.
Documents filed in Court further indicate that Wanda appealed his suspension to Board Chairperson Dr. Canon Charles Kahigiriza on February 15, 2026, arguing that his constitutional right to a fair hearing had been violated. However, he claims the appeal was dismissed two days later, effectively requiring him to proceed before the same disciplinary structures he believed were biased against him.
The affidavit further alleges that when Wanda eventually appeared before the disciplinary committee, he was accompanied by lawyers Eron Kiiza and Kakuru Tumusiime. He claims the committee denied his legal representatives the opportunity to present his case or make submissions on his behalf despite provisions in the club bylaws permitting representation.
Wanda additionally contends that the disciplinary committee ignored his requests to summon witnesses, including club officials and the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Josephine Niwamanya, for cross-examination. He argues that this denied him the opportunity to fully challenge the allegations against him.
The applicants further allege that the disciplinary committee was improperly constituted because only four members sat on some of the proceedings instead of the mandatory five required under the club’s bylaws. They also claim that Julianne Mweheire and Nelson Kabwama were neither nominated by the Management Board nor approved by the Club Assembly as required, rendering the committee unlawfully constituted.
However, Rotary International guidelines and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution grant local club boards the authority to terminate a member’s membership, either automatically or for specific causes.
Grounds for Termination include Non-Payment of Dues;Loss of Qualifications, where membership terminates automatically if a member no longer meets the baseline qualifications for Rotary membership;Non-Attendance, that is failing to meet attendance requirements or missing four consecutive meetings (without a valid make-up or board excuse);
Other Causes – the board can terminate a member for “good cause” or if they cease to meet the qualifications of the club.
A club that fails to terminate a member for say, disgraceful conduct, itself risks being terminated by Rotary International. The applicants are seeking declarations that the disciplinary proceedings, findings and termination decisions are null and void, and an order for their immediate reinstatement as members of the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands.
The applicants are also demanding general, aggravated and exemplary damages, interest on any damages awarded, and costs of the suit. The file has already been allocated to Justice Bonny Isaac Teko who has fixed June 22nd, 2026, at 10am to start hearing the case. The respondents in this case also have not yet filed their respective responses to the case-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
