By Ben Musanje
The Uganda Law Society has dramatically entered a growing legal battle, joining a determined team of lawyers to pile pressure on Her Worship Neumbe Ritah Kidasa, the Chief Magistrate of Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, over allegations of misconduct in the high-profile case involving Hassan Male Mabirizi.
What began as a courtroom dispute has now exploded into a national controversy, with lawyers accusing Her Worship Neumbe Ritah Kidasa of defying a binding Constitutional Court decision and refusing to correct actions they say are unlawful.
The legal team, drawn from Escala Advocates and Associated Advocates, is led by Advocate Yasin Sentumbwe Munagomba, working alongside Managing Partner Vincent Victor Mpalanyi, Partner Nancy Okecha, Legal Associate Hazaheru Katende, and Advocate Wilbroad Osinde. Together, they have formally petitioned the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Uganda in Kampala, demanding urgent intervention.
At the center of their complaint is a Constitutional Court judgment delivered on March 17, 2026, which declared key provisions of the Computer Misuse Act invalid. These provisions had formed the basis of the charges in the case before Her Worship Neumbe Ritah Kidasa.
Despite being presented with a certified copy of that judgment, the lawyers argue that the Chief Magistrate refused to acknowledge its effect and instead continued proceedings as if the ruling did not exist. They say this amount to a direct challenge to the authority of the Constitutional Court.
The situation took a sharper turn when the Uganda Law Society stepped in through its Vice President Anthony Asiimwe, adding institutional weight to the lawyers’ claims. Asiimwe pushed for immediate compliance with the Constitutional Court order, warning that any continued actions contrary to it would be unlawful.
With the Uganda Law Society now backing the legal team, the pressure on Her Worship Neumbe Ritah Kidasa has intensified significantly, turning the matter into a broader test of judicial accountability.
The lawyers accuse the Chief Magistrate of ignoring established legal duties, including the obligation to recognize binding court decisions. They further claim that she rejected applications placed before her without offering a fair hearing, raising serious concerns about due process.
They also argue that her actions have led to continued decisions that contradict constitutional guarantees, particularly those relating to personal liberty and fair trial, fueling accusations of judicial overreach.
In their complaint, the lawyers are demanding that the judiciary act swiftly, urging the Chief Registrar to intervene and compel Her Worship Neumbe Ritah Kidasa to take corrective steps or face disciplinary action.
The matter has now been escalated to several key institutions, including the Commissioner General of the Uganda Prisons Service, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the President of the Uganda Law Society, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations.
As tensions rise, the case has grown far beyond the individual dispute, evolving into a major confrontation over the limits of judicial power and the duty of courts to obey higher legal authority.
With the Uganda Law Society now firmly aligned with the team of lawyers, all eyes are on how the judiciary will respond to the mounting pressure surrounding Her Worship Neumbe Ritah Kidasa, as the Mabirizi case continues to send shockwaves through Uganda’s legal system. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
