Justice Deepa Verma
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Caught between a rock and hard place, Justice Verma has agreed to a family meeting to resolve a bitter dispute over the estate of her late relatives, barely a week after her cousins petitioned President Yoweri Museveni seeking his intervention in the succession row.
The High Court judge, Justice Deepa Verma, has, through her lawyers, proposed a meeting with her cousins to find an amicable solution and ensure that every rightful beneficiary receives what is due from the estates of the late Zura Mama Kasuku and Ahluwalia Gudo.
The development follows a petition to President Museveni by Bunny Wallia, Johnny Wallia, Ronnie Wallia and Jassie Ahluwalia, who asked him to order an independent examination of the files and documents used by the Administrator General to issue certificates of no objection to Justice Verma to process letters of administration for the family estates.
The cousins have alleged irregularities and possible collusion in the administration process, arguing that they were sidelined despite having legitimate interests in the property.
Disputed Family Estates
The dispute concerns the estates of Zura Mama Kasuku and Ahluwalia Gudo, formerly associated with Plot 10, Constantino Lobo Road, Kakoba Ward, Kakoba Division in Mbarara City.
According to the petitioners, Justice Verma and her brother, Jesse Wallia, initiated the opening and processing of files relating to the estates at the Office of the Administrator General on June 12, 2026.
They allege that a purported family meeting was convened on the same day but was attended by only four people, excluding other beneficiaries.
The cousins contend that the meeting was irregular and was allegedly intended to create an appearance of legitimacy for subsequent actions that could undermine their rights to the estates.
They further questioned the issuance of certificates of no objection by the Administrator General, claiming that the documents were issued without death certificates, introduction and confirmation of recommendation letters from relevant local council authorities and without consultation with the other beneficiaries.
Application for Letters of Administration
The petitioners allege that after the certificates of no objection were issued, Justice Verma and Jesse Wallia applied for grants of letters of administration for both estates without their knowledge or consent.
They say they only became aware of the proceedings after the applications were advertised in New Vision on July 10, 2026.
The developments prompted the cousins to petition President Museveni, arguing that the administration of deceased persons’ estates directly affects family and property rights and must therefore be conducted transparently and lawfully.
They called for an independent examination of the files and documents relied upon in processing the estates.
Justice Verma Proposes Amicable Settlement
In a letter dated August 13, 2026, Justice Verma, through her lawyers, Yehangane & Company Advocates, proposed a family meeting to resolve the dispute.
The lawyers said their client was prepared to engage her cousins in order to clear the disagreements and allow the succession process to proceed.
“On a very positive note, our clients are agreeable to having a meeting to solve these issues to allow the application to protect the estate that should not be hampered by caveats and the founded disagreements,” the lawyers wrote.
They proposed August 31 or September 1, 2026, for the meeting, saying it would provide an opportunity to resolve the impasse and enable the application for letters of administration to proceed to its logical conclusion.
The proposed settlement would also ensure that “each and every beneficiary gets what is due to him or her if entitled.”
Court Action Still Possible
Although Justice Verma has opened the door to an out-of-court settlement, her lawyers warned that the court option remains available if the proposed meeting fails.
They said that if the meeting does not take place or fails to resolve the dispute, Justice Verma would return to court seeking withdrawal of the caveat lodged by her cousins.
She maintains that the estates should not remain unadministered indefinitely.
The proposed family meeting therefore offers the latest opportunity for the relatives to resolve a dispute that has increasingly moved from the family setting into formal administrative and political channels.
For the beneficiaries, the central demand remains that the estates be administered through a transparent and inclusive process.
For Justice Verma, the proposed meeting could provide a route to settle the disagreement without prolonged litigation, while ensuring that the succession applications are allowed to proceed and that legitimate beneficiaries ultimately receive what they are entitled to from the family estates.
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