Justice Kavuma vows to defend family lineage rights

Retired Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma has spoken out on the recent standoff with a section of the late Abdulayi Ddiba Lwazza family members in the interest of protecting family property from ‘selfish individuals’.
Justice Kavuma has kept a low profile following an outburst by a section of the family members from the late Ddiba Lwazza lineage of Kilwazza Village in Luweero District. The Lwazza family members accuse the Judge of obstructing their alleged lawful possession of property located at Mutundwe Zone, a Kampala city suburb which belongs to his late mother Margaret Nanozi Ddungu.

He has, however, vowed to defend the property from individuals who he claims are selfish and harbor ill intentions against the will of the majority family members who want to preserve the property and cultural identity established by their grandparents.
“I have heard all the accusations against my personality in regard to issues relating to our family. This comes at a time when we should be focusing on how to preserve our lineage identity through putting up projects and preserving what our grandparents left. I cannot stand and watch as self-seeking individuals try to take advantage of the majority of the Abdulayi Ddiba Lwazza family. I will use my knowledge and ability as a lawyer to defend these rights as a grandson,” Kavuma told a family meeting held at their ancestral home located at Kilwazza Village in Luweero Sub-county, Luweero District on Monday.

Kavuma’s message is in response to the alleged allegations by Mr Ronald Ssebirumbi who claims that they are in possession of court documents allowing them to access to the property of the late Margaret Nanono Ddungu currently under the custody of Justice Kavuma.

Mr Khalid Ndugga Mulwazza, the head of the family lineage for Musaayi Kawuuta family of the late Abdulayi Ddiba Lwazza at the family re-union meeting over the weekend also dismissed these as false attempts by Mr Ssebirumbi to hoodwink the public that he has the powers to take decisions without authority from his office as head of the lineage.
“I possess the stamp and official records of the family as the late Abdulayi Ddiba Lwazza. We have never assigned Mr Ronald Ssebirumbi any duty as he claimed at a recent press conference,” he said.

Ssebirumbi in his press statement claimed that Justice Kavuma is wrongfully taking custody of property of the late Margaret Nanono Ddungu yet he is not a member of the Fumbe Clan. Ssebirumbi also claimed that the family had assigned him the responsibility to recover the house and property of the late Nanono located in at Mutundwe from Justice Kavuma.
The family has been embroiled in a property row since the death of Ms Margaret Nanono Ddungu in 2017. A section of the family members wanted the deceased to be buried in Luweero while some family members including Justice Kavuma insisted on the deceased being buried at her home in Mutundwe. The family resolved to have Ms Ddungu buried at Mutundwe.
In March 2017, Ssebirumbi in company of other family members tried to forcefully take possession of the family house and property, but were stopped by police at Mutundwe.

Ssebirumbi claimed that Justice Kavuma had used his official guards to stop them from accessing and taking possession of the property at Mutundwe yet they have a court order.

Commenting on Justice Kavma’s response including the position of lineage family head, Ssebirumbi told the Daily Monitor that they are not scared and will fight to possess the property.
“We had what transpired in Luweero District at a meeting held at Kilwazza Village, but we are not moved,” Ssebirumbi claimed on Monday (March 23).

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