Business 16 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Muwema Law Firm Eviction Turns Criminal Amid Rent Dispute
A routine rent disagreement between Muwema & Co. Advocates and their landlord in Kololo has escalated into a court battle, forced eviction, and robbery allegations after the law firm exercised an option to buy the property. The firm disputes the court's ruling ordering payment of over $372,000 and vacating the premises, now accusing the landlord of seizing their assets illegally. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/muwema-eviction-rent-saga-takes-darker-turn-5392902
A tenancy dispute at a prime Kololo office space has exploded into a major legal and criminal controversy involving prominent Kampala lawyer Fred Muwema’s firm and landlord Downtown Investments Ltd.
Muwema & Co. has occupied Plot 50 Windsor Crescent Road since 2014 under a renewable five-year lease that included an option to purchase the property, initially valued at $2 million. The firm invested heavily in renovations after finding the premises in disrepair, including fixing leaks, plumbing, and electrical systems.
In August 2021, the firm exercised the purchase option, offering $1.05 million based on Kololo land rates of $15,000-$20,000 per decimal for the 60-decimal plot. Negotiations stalled when the landlord’s representative, Tusha Ruparelia, fell ill and died in December 2021, leaving the deal unresolved. Despite this, the landlord demanded rent, claiming $148,300 in arrears.
The firm paid $130,000 during court mediation as a good-faith gesture, intending it to offset the purchase price. However, the High Court’s Commercial Division ruled against them on February 20, with Justice Patricia Mutesi ordering payment of over $372,000 in arrears, damages, and mesne profits, plus eviction.
Muwema disputes the ruling, citing ignored payments and unpleaded mesne profits of $224,000. The firm plans to appeal, insisting the purchase option ended their tenancy status.
Enforcement came swiftly on March 6, with police overseeing the eviction. The landlord removed and stored the firm’s property, including over 1,000 files, computers, cash, and equipment, after the firm failed to collect it. Muwema & Co. labels this ‘aggravated robbery’ by armed agents and has filed a criminal complaint, disrupting ongoing cases.
The firm has relocated to Plot 40, Nakasero Road, and aims to resume operations soon. The case spotlights challenges in Uganda’s property law, from purchase options to dispute resolution amid personal setbacks like illness or death.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)