A section of lawyers has criticized a High Court order that halted the implementation of a decision by the Law Council Disciplinary Committee striking lawyer Richard Buzibira off the roll of advocates.
The lawyers argue that Buzibira used the wrong legal procedure to challenge the Law Council’s decision, allegedly misleading the court into issuing an irregular order.
In a ruling delivered on May 13, 2026, the Law Council Disciplinary Committee ordered that Buzibira be struck off the roll of advocates after finding him guilty of professional misconduct. The committee also directed him to surrender his practising certificate to the Chief Registrar.
“We have found that the respondent (Buzibira) committed professional misconduct involving fraud and negligence. The acts by the respondent caused gross loss and all sorts of inconvenience. Such conduct, in our view, was grave as many people, including government entities, were affected,” the committee ruled.
The disciplinary panel was chaired by Moses Mushabebe Nabende and included Dr. Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira and Abubaker Ssekanjako.
However, High Court Judge Simon Peter Kinobe of the Civil Division later issued an order staying the execution of the disciplinary committee’s decision.
“The execution of all orders of the Disciplinary Committee of the Law Council in LCD No. 94 of 2017 are hereby stayed pending the hearing and determination of Miscellaneous Appeal No. 0007 of 2026,” the court order reads.
The lawyers contend that although Buzibira has a right to appeal, he instituted proceedings against the wrong parties, rendering the appeal defective.
According to them, the Law Council is a quasi-judicial body that cannot be sued directly because it falls under the Attorney General’s office. They further argue that Pastor Daniel Walugembe, the complainant in the disciplinary case, was merely a witness and not a proper respondent in the appeal.
“The judge entertained an irregular application because it was filed against the wrong parties. The memorandum of appeal was also never served upon the affected parties as required by law,” the lawyers claim.
Under the Advocates Act, Cap. 295, the Law Council does not possess corporate legal personality.
The lawyers are now calling upon the Attorney General to take over the conduct of the matter or take appropriate legal steps to safeguard the interests of justice and ensure compliance with the law.
When contacted for comment, Pastor Daniel Walugembe said he was unaware of the court order staying the disciplinary sanctions against Buzibira.
In its decision, the disciplinary committee emphasized that Buzibira’s actions resulted in unnecessary litigation, compensation claims, and wastage of public resources that could have been avoided had he acted professionally.
“We found the evidence of the complainant to be coherent, consistent, plausible and more believable. We further found that the presentation of forged documents was intended to facilitate fraudulent acts. We are convinced that fraudulent acts were indeed committed and that the respondent is liable for them,” the committee stated.
The ruling followed a successful complaint filed by Pastor Walugembe, who accused Buzibira of forging instructions and powers of attorney purportedly issued by Sunday Joseph. The documents allegedly authorized Buzibira to process payments arising from a land sale involving the Uganda Land Commission.
Buzibira has since challenged the disciplinary committee’s decision before the Civil Division of the High Court. The appeal remains pending and is expected to be heard and determined by a panel of three judges.
