FDC-leaning senior lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi has always been known as the poor man’s lawyer ever defending clients without regard to money. He has always insisted on justice being done while spearheading cases that seemed like Public Interest Litigation. However, the case in which ex-ISO operative Maj Godfrey Musisi Galabuzi sued Gen Kale Kayihura for torture at Nalufenya has seemingly brought out the worst in Counsel Rwakafuzi, a man many took to be infallible. Galabuzi was famously confined at Nalufenya where he was tortured along with his wife Grace Nankya, domestic workers and tenants including Bernard Friday, Stuart Ainebyona and GW Kimbugwe. The narrative by the Kayihura-led Police was that they were actively involved in the murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi. They were picked on 23rd March 2017 barely a week after Kaweesi’s murder outside his Kulambiro residence. Gabula says that while at Nalufenya, he and his people were tortured and unsuccessfully coerced to implicate Gen Henry Tumukunde while claiming he hired them with Shs50m to murder Kaweesi. He says while at Nalufenya, he was met by police emissaries Abbey Kitagenda, Siraje Minaana and Miramira who would come to him every after torture session. He says at some point the torture was too much he thrice collapsed while at Nalufenya. He says the trio would promise him money if he cooperated confessing the murder while implicating Gen Tumukunde. On being freed after his lawyer Rwakafuzi, the media and relatives intervened, Galabuzi decided to sue Kayihura for the torture and was represented by Rwakafuzi. He says after the matter was properly filed in the High Court, Kayihura became nervous and sent for him proposing peace talks and out of court settlement which even our Judiciary these days encourages (its actually mandatory) under mediation. Galabuzi says several meetings where held involving him, his lawyer Rwakafuzi, Kayihura himself and his lawyers. During the meetings, Galabuzi demanded Shs800m in compensation for torture and humiliation the whole thing brought to his reputation. He also factored in the working time and business opportunities the family lost during the Nalufenya confinement. Kayihura’s side initially offered Shs100m saying Shs800m was too much and unaffordable. Galabuzi stood his ground but Rwakafuzi as counsel advised him that the Shs200m, Kayihura’s side was finally offering, was sufficient. At this point, the two sharply disagreed and Galabuzi developed suspicion and mistrust towards his lawyer. In a Monday interview, Rwakafuzi confirmed this narrative in an interview with Bukedde newspaper categorically disclosing the case file was closed the moment Gen Kayihura paid Shs200m. Galabuzi has since furiously denounced Rwakafuzi and replaced him with lawyer George Muhangi from Kafeero & Co Advocates who is determined to carry on to ensure Court compels Gen Kayihura to pay up to Shs800m.
