Muwema & Co. Advocates Evicted from Kololo Offices in Dramatic Police Operation
High Court ruling on Shs1.4 billion rent arrears leads to forceful removal, law firm cries foul
In a tense standoff that unfolded yesterday morning, prominent Ugandan law firm Muwema & Co. Advocates was forcibly ejected from its long-time premises at Plot 50 Windsor Crescent, Kololo, in an operation carried out by landlord Downtown Investments Ltd with heavy police presence.
The eviction, which began at approximately 8:00 am on March 6, 2026, saw officers from Downtown Investments Ltd accompanied by policemen from Kira Road Police Station and unidentified men descend on the law firm’s offices and remove all property from the building.
Court Battle Behind the Eviction
The action follows a February 20, 2026 ruling by High Court Justice Patricia Mutesi in HCCS No. 621 of 2023, in which she ordered Muwema & Co. Advocates to pay over Shs1.4 billion (approximately $372,300) in accumulated rent and damages to landlord Downtown Investments Ltd.
According to court documents, the law firm had entered into a five-year lease agreement with the landlord in 2014, which expired in 2019. The firm continued occupying the premises but allegedly stopped paying rent after December 2021, claiming it was a “purchaser in waiting” for the property—a justification the judge rejected, finding that no binding sale agreement existed.
Law Firm Condemns Operation as Illegal
However, in a strongly worded press release issued shortly after the eviction, Muwema & Co. Advocates described the operation as an “illegal eviction disguised as a re-entry” and accused Downtown Investments Ltd of acting irregularly.
The firm, which has announced plans to appeal the High Court decision, pointed to several alleged procedural violations:
· No execution process of the court decree was commenced
· The mandatory 90-day notice of eviction required under the Constitution (Land Evictions) Practice Directions, 2021 was not issued
· No warrant of eviction was issued by the court to be enforced by the police
“We condemn these wanton criminal acts committed by Downtown Investments Ltd with the support of the police and will do everything necessary to obtain the appropriate legal redress,” the law firm stated.
Conflicting Accounts of Legal Status
The crux of the dispute centers on whether the eviction constituted a lawful execution of a court judgment or an illegal land grabbing exercise. While the High Court ruled against the law firm in February, no stay of execution was granted, leaving the premises vulnerable to enforcement action.
The law firm maintains that by submitting the dispute to the courts, Downtown Investments Ltd had forfeited the right to self-help remedies like re-entry. They further argue that the timing and manner of the eviction—coming after they filed an appeal—represents a deliberate attempt to frustrate their appellate rights.
“This was an irregular execution by all accounts of the recent judgment… The illegal eviction was done in a bid to frustrate our appeal,” the statement read.
Aftermath and Next Steps
Following the eviction, a private security company has since taken over the premises. All property belonging to the law firm has been removed from the building, with the operation carried out with the assistance of the Uganda Police.
Despite being displaced from their physical offices, Muwema & Co. Advocates has assured clients and partners that they are working remotely and remain reachable through all existing communication channels. The firm has indicated it will announce its new physical office address in the coming days.
The law firm’s promised appeal will now test whether the eviction procedure followed the proper legal channels or whether, as they claim, it constituted an illegal action requiring judicial remedy. Legal observers note that the absence of a stay of execution significantly complicated the firm’s position, though questions about the notice period and warrant requirements may yet become points of contention in appellate proceedings.
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