Written By James Muhindo, Esq.
In order for one to understand the rationale behind the court decision in the Hamis Kiggundu Versus Diamond Trust Bank Uganda & Kenya (Ham Vs DTB) case, we have to go back four decades, to when the rule on courts not entertaining illegalities was set. The rule avers that “an illegality once brought to the attention of court cannot be allowed to stand.” On 13th of December 1978, a company called Makula International Ltd filed a case against two respondents, His Eminence Cardinal Nsubuga and Rev. Dr. Father Kyeyune, each in their representative capacity. On the same day, the company also filed an application asking for permission of the court to sue the respondents in their representative capacity, as it is a legal requirement that before you sue a person in their representative capacity, you must seek first the permission of court. Read full article
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Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the region, several partner states were at loggerheads due to unresolved grievances. For example, the Rwanda and Uganda relations hit rock bottom at the start of 2018. Kigali leveled several accusations against Uganda including: Ugandan security agencies targeting for deportation Rwandans living in Uganda, and Rwandan rebel outfit called Rwanda National Congress (RNC) led by renegade General Kayumba Nyamwasa recruiting in Uganda with the aim of destabilizing Rwanda. Uganda in turn accused Rwanda of meddling in its internal affairs including infiltrating its security. Both countries have denied accusations against them. Several meetings including summit meetings between Presidents Kagame and Museveni under the mediation of Angola, are yet to resolve the issues. Meanwhile, the common border between the two partner states remains closed. 
In the wake of COVID-19, East African countries should embrace the idea of “building back better”. It is an opportunity to make our economies greener than before and tackle climate change for real. We need to prevent further and irreversible damage to nature. There is an opportunity to learn from countries that have taken the lead, such as Germany, Singapore, and New Zealand among others. They have acted decisively to prevent permanent damage to nature and, by doing so, are lowering future costs of protecting the planet. 
