The principal Judge Dr. Flavian Nzeija is in trouble after he was dragged to the state House Anti-corruption Unit for his alleged involvement in acts of conflict of interest and influence peddling.
The petitioners, Peter Kyeyune, Herbert Katta and Philip Ndugga through their lawyer accuse the Principle Judge of sabotaging a matter relating to the reclaim of their land, which was sold while they were minors.
They contend that together with their late dad, Solomon Kamya are joint proprietors of land in Busiro block 44 plot 214 and 227 at Nkumba, Wakiso, registered on June 25 1997.
The children say their father died on 26 June 2000 while they were all minors without the legal capacity to contract.
In 2020, the three children desired to distribute land amongst themselves but discovered that Veronica Kayihura had fraudulently registered herself on the land tittles on March 21st, 2002 and May 22, 2003, respectively.
The registered proprietor, their father was by the time long dead. This prompted the petitioners and find out who had signed the deeds, agreements or transfer form on behalf of their departed father.
In the research, the petitioners came across a copy of an undated sale agreement purportedly executed by their “Mukuza” and Uncle James Mwabula, Joyce Nansubuga and themselves on the on hand and Veronica Kaihura on the hand. The agreement framers had allegedly acknowledged that the complaints father, the co-registered proprietor was dead and that the sale was witnessed by the Principal Judge Flavia Nzeija and Co. Advocates as he was by then.
The petitioners reported the matter to the land registration commission, which convened a public hearing. It cancelled Veronica Kayihura’s fraudulent registration and reinstated the petitioners as genuine landowners.
The petitioners further lodge a case video SD REF: 70/70/012023 at Entebbe police station, citing forgery and fraudulent registration against Veronica Kahiura.
However, the police have not recorded a statement from the suspect but rather opened multiple cases against the complaints and their casual laborer. They are accused of criminal trespassing on the land, yet the said Kaihura has not recorded any statement.
According to the petition letter, one Etyanga-the officer investigating the matter told the petitioners’ Lawyer that the principal Judge had made a call showing interest in the matter, that’s why the case file is still redundant.
The same Veronica has instituted a civil case No.67 of 2023 against the petitioners, which their lawyer believes is because the principal Judge has an invisible hand in the matter and he is likely to obstruct justice since he is the head of High Court of Uganda.
“Justice must not only be done but seen to be done guides our clients to believe that the judicial process shall be biased unless the influence of the said principal Judge is nipple”, reports reads.
It’s believed that if the police are afraid of the Principal Judge, how much more afraid shall the judicial officers who are directly under his supervision?
“Our clients are caught up between a rock and hard place. They don’t expect any impartially from the police and courts and it’s the reason they are seeking the intervention of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
In their petition to the office of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, they demand the following,
To prevail upon the principal judge Dr. Flavia Nzeija and investigate the circumstances under which he prepared and witnessed an undated illegal agreement between his client Veronica Kayihura and the petitioners who were minors and the “Mukuza” who neither had letters of Administration nor a guardianship order as required by Law.
To investigate the fraudulent actions of Veronica Kayihura and have her prosecuted for the same.
To permanently restrain Veronica and Dr. Flavia Nzeija from interfering with the petitioners’ quiet enjoyment of their land.
When contracted, Veronica Kayihura declined to comment, saying those are mere allegations.