- A family at the centre of a long-running inheritance dispute has petitioned President Museveni in what it alleges were irregularities in the administration of two estates involving a serving High Court judge and the Administrator General.
The complaint, dated July 16, 2026, was also addressed to the Chief Justice, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), and the Principal Judge.
It demands investigations into what the family describes as an irregular and exclusionary succession process involving Justice Deepa Verma and the Administrator General.
The complainants -- Bunny Wallia, Johnny Wallia, Ronnie Wallia and Jassie Ahluwalia -- accuse Administrator General Manzi Victor and Justice Verma of overseeing a process through which applications to administer the estates were advanced without the involvement of what they describe as "true family members and beneficiaries."
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The allegations have not been determined by any competent authority, and Justice Verma, the Administrator General and other parties named in the complaint have not publicly responded to the claims contained in the petition.
The dispute centres on Administration Cause Nos. 599 and 600 of 2026 before the High Court Family Division, in which Justice Verma and Jassa Wallia applied for letters of administration for the estates of Ahluwalia Gudo and Zura Mama Kasuku respectively.
According to notices published in the New Vision newspaper on July 10, 2026, the applicants sought authority from court to administer the estates after obtaining Certificates of No Objection from the Administrator General's office.
The complainants, however, say they only learnt about the court proceedings after the newspaper notices were published.
"We were alarmed to discover that proceedings concerning the estates of our family members had been commenced and advertised without our knowledge or involvement," the complaint states.
The family alleges that on June 12, 2026, Justice Verma and her brother, Jassa Wallia, caused the opening and processing of files relating to the two estates at the Office of the Administrator General.
The complaint states that a family meeting was held at the Administrator General's office on the same day but that only four people attended.
"The complainants were not invited to, notified of, or involved in the said meeting," the complaint states, adding that other relatives and possible beneficiaries were also allegedly excluded.
Documents attached to the complaint show that a family meeting was held concerning the estate of Zura Mama Kasuku on June 12, 2026.
Minutes from the meeting indicate that the family agreed that a Certificate of No Objection be issued to Justice Verma and Jassa Wallia, described in the documents as granddaughter and grandson respectively.
The family consent document lists four signatories: Justice Deepa Verma, Sue Wallia, Jassa Wallia and Sharan Verma.
The Administrator General's office subsequently issued a Certificate of No Objection dated June 15, 2026, allowing the applicants to proceed with an application for letters of administration.
However, the complainants question the speed of the process, arguing that the certificate was issued only three days after the family meeting.
"The complainants are seriously concerned about the speed and circumstances in which the Certificates of No Objection were issued," the petition states.
Among the issues they want investigated are whether death certificates and other supporting documents were available, whether local authority letters were obtained, whether all beneficiaries were consulted, and whether properties listed as forming part of the estates actually belong to the deceased persons.
The petition also raises concerns about Justice Verma's position as a serving judicial officer.
The complainants argue that her involvement in succession proceedings involving family members raises questions about possible conflict of interest and judicial propriety.
They ask authorities to investigate "whether any person abused, misused or improperly invoked a public office, judicial position or official influence in connection with the estates."
The complaint also refers to an earlier dispute involving Justice Verma and members of the Wallia family.
In February 2026, Bunny and Johnny Wallia wrote to the Chief Justice complaining about what they described as unprofessional conduct and breach of client confidentiality by Justice Verma.
They alleged that Justice Verma had previously acted as a lawyer for their late father, Sunder Kaka Wallia, and his sister Ahluwalia Gudo before later becoming a judicial officer.
The family's earlier complaint was also forwarded to the Judicial Service Commission.
A letter from the Judicial Service Commission dated September 30, 2025, addressed to the Equal Opportunities Commission, confirms that a complaint had been forwarded to its Disciplinary Committee.
"The Disciplinary Committee in its sitting held on 23rd August 2025 under Min 31.7/08/2025/2026 directed that the complaint be investigated," the letter states.
The commission said the matter had been forwarded to its Department of Complaints and Investigations and that it would provide feedback after investigations.
In their latest petition, the complainants say they are not seeking to interfere with the independence of the Judiciary but want oversight bodies to examine how the estates were processed before the court proceedings began.
"This complaint is not intended to interfere with the independence of the Judiciary or to prejudge any matter pending before Court," they state.
"Rather, it is intended to bring to the attention of the appropriate oversight and administrative authorities serious concerns regarding the circumstances in which the estates were allegedly processed."
The family has asked authorities to preserve and examine the complete files from the Administrator General's office, including applications, supporting documents, minutes of the family meeting, attendance lists and correspondence.
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They have also asked that the court files in Administration Cause Nos. 599 and 600 of 2026 be reviewed.
The complainants warn that failure to intervene could result in estates being administered without participation of lawful beneficiaries and could undermine public confidence in succession processes.
"The administration of estates of deceased persons is a matter that directly affects property rights, family rights, the protection of beneficiaries and public confidence in the institutions entrusted with the administration of justice," the complaint states.
In a brief response to the Nile Post, Justice James Ereemye Mawanda, the spokesperson for the Judiaciary, he would not comment on what is not in the realm of the Judiciary but defended Judge Verma's right to apply for letters of administration.
"As for Justice Deepa applying for letters of Administration, the law doesn't bar her as long as she qualifies to be one of those entitled to bringing such an application(s) to Administrator General and or Court," he said.
The Nile Post has also reached out to the Office of the Administrator General over accusations that it irregularly issued Certificates of No Objection for the estates of the late Zura Mama Kasuku and the late Ahluwalia Gudo.
The High Court is yet to determine the applications for letters of administration, and the allegations contained in the complaint remain contested claims pending any findings by the relevant authorities.
