Criminal charges against ICJ Judge Sebutinde's husband dropped

The husband of International Court of Justice Judge Julia Sebutinde, John Bagunywa Ssebutinde, will not face arrest after criminal charges against him were withdrawn by the Buganda Road Court. The charges stemmed from allegations that he defied a stop order on construction works at his property in Bugolobi.

Ssebutinde and co-accused Joseph Wamala were charged with failing to comply with an order halting building operations, a violation of the Building Control Act. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) took over the private prosecution and subsequently applied to discontinue the proceedings.

Senior Principal Magistrate Nicholas Aisu granted the withdrawal, also recalling and vacating arrest warrants previously issued for Ssebutinde and Wamala. While the charges are withdrawn, the DPP indicated that further investigations into the matter may still occur.

The case is linked to a multi-storey apartment development that has led to both civil and criminal legal actions. Local residents have reportedly expressed concerns about the development’s compatibility with the residential area, citing issues such as nuisance, privacy, and potential depreciation of property values.

In a related civil suit, a separate group, including Judiciary Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana, sued Ssebutinde, his wife, and Wamala. They challenged the legality of the development and its approvals, seeking to cancel the building permit and demolish the structure.

The criminal proceedings were initially initiated by a private prosecutor before the DPP intervened. Despite an objection from the private prosecutor’s lawyer, the court upheld the DPP’s authority to take over and discontinue the case, citing constitutional and legal provisions.

The withdrawal effectively ends the current criminal proceedings, though the DPP retains the option to pursue further action based on future investigative findings. The court order ensures that Ssebutinde and Wamala will not be arrested in relation to these withdrawn charges.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)