The High Court in Kabale District has dismissed a civil suit involving the Rukungiri District aspiring Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Turyahikayo Kebirungi Mary Paula and Turyahikayo Rweihunga Godfrey against their former Political Assistant, Angello Twinomuhangi Bagorogoza who is currently eyeing the Rukungiri District Chairpersonship.
The plaintiffs alleged that they transferred Ugx 440,000,000 to Twinomuhangi for the purchase of a piece of land along the Kabale-Kisoro road, a transaction that has now become a subject of legal contention.
The case was heard on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, before Justice Ssemogerere Karoli Lwanga at the Kabale High Court. The courtroom was filled with legal representatives and interested parties, all keenly awaiting the judge’s decision. Counsel Tumwesigye Allan represented the plaintiffs, while the defense was led by Counsels Muhangi Justus and Nasiima Patience.
In his ruling, Justice Ssemogerere dismissed Civil Suit No. 20 of 2022 without prejudice, stating that no costs would be awarded. This decision did not sit well with the plaintiffs, Hon. Paula and her husband, who had hoped the court would order Twinomuhangi to return the land purchased with their money. Instead, the judge advised them to consider filing a new case focused on the direct transaction of recovering the funds.
The prosecution had argued that between October 2020 and February 2021, Twinomuhangi misappropriated the funds at the Kabale Centenary Bank branch. They contended that instead of using the Ugx 440,000,000 to acquire the land at Rwakaraba plot 35, as agreed, he allegedly diverted the money for personal use.
The plaintiffs claimed that they had trusted Twinomuhangi, who was serving as their Political Assistant, to manage this significant investment responsibly. They alleged that the defendant had provided false assurances regarding the purchase process, which ultimately led to their financial loss.
As part of the prosecution’s case, they outlined two main counts against Twinomuhangi. The first count was theft of Ugx 440,000,000, which they claimed he stole under the pretense of purchasing the land. The second count involved obtaining money by false pretenses, where it was alleged that he intended to defraud the plaintiffs during the transaction period.
The court proceedings have highlighted significant issues surrounding trust and accountability in political relationships. The plaintiffs expressed their disappointment with the outcome, emphasizing that they had placed their faith in Twinomuhangi’s capabilities, which they now feel was misplaced.
Legal experts have noted that the ruling sets a precedent in how similar cases may be handled in the future, particularly regarding the responsibilities of political assistants and advisors. The judge’s suggestion to pursue a new case for the recovery of the funds indicates a potential path forward for the plaintiffs, although it may require additional time and resources.
With this case dismissed, the focus now shifts to whether Turyahikayo Rweihunga and Hon. Kebirungi will take the judge’s advice and seek to recover the funds directly. As they consider their next steps, the implications of this ruling will likely resonate within the local political landscape, prompting discussions on the ethics of financial transactions within political circles.
Our attempts to get a comment from Mary Paula and Godfrey Turyahikayo about the ruling were futile since they were unwilling to speak to the media. Twinomuhangi was however grateful for this landmark ruling stressing that the cases against him were politically ignited since he had defected from their camp in 2021 to the competitor Hon Namanya Naboth, the current Rubabo County legislator.
Cue in……………………Twinomuhangi on ruling
