Court summons Kavuma over late guardian’s estate
Former Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- “A declaration that the defendant has no legal, equitable or moral over the deceased or her property and his actions in relation to her when she died and in relation to her property amount to tresspass,” petitioners
KAMPALA. The Land Division of the High Court in Kampala has summoned former Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma to file his defence on accusations that he illegally took over the estate of his late foster mother.
This follows a lawsuit filed by six family members of the estate of Margaret Ddungu Nanozi on April 12, who claim to be its lawful administrators.
“You are hereby required to file a defence on the said suit within 15 days from the date of service of summons on you in the manner in the manner prescribed under 0.9 r 1 Civil Procedure Rules. Should you fail to file a defence on or before the date, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgment may be given in your absence,” reads in part the court summons.
The 4.5 acre estate is located in Kanaala Zone in Mutundwe, Makindye Municipality, Bunamwaya Division in Wakiso District. It comprises an permanent house of four bedrooms.
The petitioners are; Ronald Ssebirumbi, Badru Musaazi, Paul Walusimbi, Fulgensio Musaazi, Jalia Nabwami and Sophia Ssettimba.
The petitioners state that Justice Kavuma came to be looked after by Nanozi after his father passed on.
“The plaintiffs bring this claim in their capacity as administrators of the estate. The first defendant (Justice Kavuma) came into the household of the deceased (late Nanozi) after his father died and the deceased, a charitable Christian lady helped many disadvantaged children, took him up,” the petitioners state.
“The deceased educated the 1st defendant into a lawyer and he thereby became part of Abdulayi Ddiba’s household where all the plaintiffs hail from. The deceased did not legally adopt the defendant (Justice Kavuma) or legally become his guardian albeit she treated him like a child,” they added.
The plaintiffs also claim that Justice Kavuma is wrongfully in possession of the land title for the estate.
“A declaration that the defendant has no legal, equitable or moral [authority] over the deceased or her property and his actions in relation to her when she died and in relation to her property amount to tresspass,” the petitioners add.
They also want court to order Justice Kavuma to remove his security personnel that he illegally stationed at the late Nanozi’s residence and handover the property to them since they are the lawful administrators of her estate.
The petitioners also want Justice Kavuma to pay them damages for the alleged anguish that he has taken them through by taking away Nanozi while she was still sick and also denying them a say during her burial.
By press time, the former Deputy Chief Justice was yet to put in his defence.
He retired from the Judiciary last year after clocking the retirement age of 70.
