Kampala, Uganda: A long-running family property dispute has taken a fresh turn after businessman Bunny Wallia accused High Court Judge Deepa Verma of using insulting and disrespectful language during court-annexed mediation, prompting him to demand a written apology before participating in any further mediation sessions.
The allegations are contained in a letter addressed to former Deputy Chief Justice Richard Buteera, who is presiding over the mediation under Mediation No. 68 of 2025.
The mediation arises from proceedings in which Justice Verma petitioned the Family Division of the High Court seeking Letters of Administration for the estate of the late Zura Mama Kasuku, who died intestate on August 18, 1999, in Mbarara District.
Court records indicate that the estate comprises several properties, including land in Lugazi, Mbarara City, currently occupied by Manji Memorial School, plots on 20-22 and 22-24 Karekona Road, land in Kiswahili Cell, Kakoba Division, and Plot 25 in Rwenziringiro, Bigere, Isingiro District.
In her petition, Justice Verma states that the deceased left no surviving spouse and that all six of her children have since died. She argues that she, as a granddaughter, together with Jassa Wallia, a grandson of the deceased, should be granted Letters of Administration to manage the estate.
However, Bunny Wallia disputes those claims, alleging that Justice Verma’s account of the family history is false. He further claims that his parents sponsored her legal education before she later became a judge and subsequently turned against members of the family in the succession dispute.
In his letter to Justice Buteera, Wallia says he entered the mediation process in good faith, expecting discussions to be conducted respectfully and with the objective of resolving the dispute amicably.
“I came to mediation in good faith, with the hope that the discussions would be calm, respectful, and helpful to both sides. Instead, I was repeatedly addressed in an insulting and disrespectful manner, which I found hurtful and upsetting,” Wallia wrote.
He argues that the alleged remarks undermined the mediation process by creating hostility and making it difficult for him to participate meaningfully.
According to Wallia, mediation can only succeed if all parties are treated with dignity and allowed to express themselves freely without personal attacks or abusive language.
He has therefore asked Justice Buteera not to convene any further mediation sessions until Justice Verma issues him with a written apology.
Wallia says such an apology would demonstrate goodwill, restore mutual respect among the parties and enable constructive discussions to resume.
This publication understands that another mediation session had been scheduled at the Court of Appeal, but Wallia insists he will not participate until his demand for a written apology is addressed.
Despite his objections, Wallia says he remains committed to resolving the matter through mediation rather than prolonged litigation.
“I remain willing to continue with mediation because I would still prefer for this matter to be resolved through discussion if possible. However, I can only do so if there is first a written apology and a clear understanding that any future sessions will be conducted in a respectful manner,” the letter states.
Multi-Billion Estate Dispute Widens
The succession proceedings also involve Leila Wallia and Johnny Wallia as respondents, while Reena Wallia, Jassa Wallia and Sharan Pal Verma are listed among the applicants alongside Justice Verma.
The latest allegations come weeks after Bunny Wallia, Johnny Wallia, Ronnie Wallia and Jassie Ahluwalia petitioned President Yoweri Museveni, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), the Chief Justice and the Principal Judge, calling for investigations into what they described as alleged irregular, improper, unlawful and abusive conduct by Justice Verma in relation to the administration of the estates of Zura Mama Kasuku and Ahluwalia Gudo.
According to the petition, Justice Verma and her brother, Jassa Wallia, allegedly obtained Certificates of No Objection from the Administrator General, Victor Manzi, within three days after meeting his office on June 12, 2026.
The petitioners question the speed with which the certificates were issued on June 15, 2026, arguing that other family members were neither consulted nor involved in the process.
They further express concern that because one of the applicants is a serving judicial officer, they may not receive a fair hearing, prompting them to seek intervention from the President and other oversight institutions.
The matter has also been reported to the Judicial Service Commission, where a related complaint is understood to have been lodged.
Justice Deepa Verma had not publicly responded to the allegations by the time of publication.
Efforts by DailyExpress to obtain her response were unsuccessful. Calls made to her known telephone number since Wednesday were answered by an individual who said the judge was engaged in court proceedings. Although assurances were given that she would return the calls, no response had been received by press time.
Editor’s Note: The allegations contained in this story are claims made by parties to an ongoing legal dispute. They have not been determined by any court or disciplinary body, and Justice Deepa Verma has not publicly responded to them.
