By Eye Media Uganda | Kampala, Uganda | Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Four family members have petitioned President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to order investigations into a bitter inheritance dispute involving High Court Judge Justice Deepa Verma and the Office of the Administrator General, alleging serious irregularities in the administration of their grandparents’ estates.
In a petition dated July 16, 2026, Bunny Wallia, Jonny Wallia, Ronnie Wallia and Jassie Ahluwalia accuse Justice Verma and the Office of the Administrator General of overseeing what they describe as an irregular and potentially unlawful succession process concerning the estates of the late Zura Mama Kasuku and the late Ahluwalia Gudo in Mbarara.
The petitioners, who say they are legitimate beneficiaries of the estates, allege that succession proceedings were initiated without their knowledge, consultation or participation.
“We, the above-named complainants and members of the family and persons with a legitimate interest in the estates of the late Zura Mama Kasuku and the late Ahluwalia Gudo, hereby lodge this formal complaint against Her Lordship Justice Deepa Verma,” part of the petition reads.
The four are asking President Museveni to direct an urgent investigation into the matter and ensure that appropriate administrative, disciplinary, judicial or criminal action is taken if any wrongdoing is established.
According to the petition, Justice Verma and her brother, Jessa Wallia, initiated the opening and processing of files relating to the two estates at the Office of the Administrator General on June 12, 2026. The complainants further allege that a family meeting convened the same day was attended by only four people, excluding other beneficiaries with legitimate interests in the estates.
They also question how the Office of the Administrator General issued certificates of no objection on June 15, 2026, just three days after the meeting, describing the speed of the process as suspicious.
The petitioners further claim that Justice Verma and her brother later filed succession proceedings before the Family Division of the High Court without notifying other beneficiaries, saying they only became aware of the case after it was advertised in the media.
They also argue that the matter raises concerns because one of the applicants seeking to administer the estates is a serving judicial officer. According to the petition, Justice Verma previously acted as the family’s lawyer before her appointment to the Bench.
Senior Presidential Press Secretary Sandor Walusimbi said he had not yet received information regarding the President’s response to the petition.
However, Justice Verma dismissed the allegations, describing the petition as an attempt by jealous relatives to tarnish her reputation because she is now a High Court judge.
“These are my cousins, and this is pure jealousy because now I’m a judge and they want to bring down my reputation. If truly the petition is before the President, I’m yet to see it, and I will respond accordingly if it’s brought to my attention,” she said.
Justice Verma revealed that the matter is already before court and is scheduled for mediation before retired Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera.
She also defended the speed with which the Office of the Administrator General processed the certificates of no objection, questioning why efficiency in government institutions should be viewed with suspicion.
The judge further accused the complainants of mismanaging the family estate after the previous letters of administration expired in 2025.
“These boys mismanaged the estate, and they are now riding on my position to bring me down. These boys are just jealous and vindictive. They think if they mess up my reputation, I will back out; I will not,” Justice Verma said.
She maintained that the family had to intervene after the complainants allegedly mismanaged the estates and defended her previous role as the family’s lawyer, saying it was undertaken in the context of an extended family relationship.
The dispute now pits members of the same family against each other in both the courts of law and the court of public opinion, with the petitioners seeking President Museveni’s intervention while Justice Verma insists the matter should be resolved through the ongoing judicial process.
