The High Court Civil Division in Kampala has set July 7 to rule in the case in which five members of the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands are challenging their suspension and subsequent expulsion from the club.
The applicants, Nelson Turyatemba, Ronald Samuel Wanda, Gladys Edwards Namala, John Martin Sekwe and Byamukama Robert dragged the leadership of Rotary International and several club officials to court over what they described as a violation of their rights to a fair hearing.
Through a February letter, signed by the Secretary of the club’s Disciplinary Committee, the affected members were suspended from all club platforms and activities.
However, the applicants challenged the decision by ten members of the club’s top leadership, including President Deborah Itwau Ongwech, Acting Secretary and Board member Bernard Ochan, Board Chairperson Dr Canon Charles Kahigiriza, and Disciplinary Committee Chairperson Medard Muganzi, among others.
This Publication learnt that on Monday, a court session was held at the High Court Civil Division at Tweed Tower in Kampala, in which Justice Bonny Isaac Teko set July 7 this year as the date for delivering the ruling in the matter.
Counsel Kakuru Tumusiime, the lawyer representing the applicants, argued that the suspensions were unlawful and violated his clients’ constitutional and procedural rights.
He is demanding that the expelled members be reinstated into the club, adding that their privileges, of attending the club meetings, fellowships and adding them back to the official WhatsApp forum, would help resolve the wrangles.
‘The Club leadership ignored all the rights provided for in the constitution by terminating the members of the club without following due process,’ Kakuru said.
The applicants are also seeking compensation in general damages, arguing that the club’s actions amounted to violations of their fundamental rights and freedoms, alongside other legal breaches.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Rotary leadership after the court session were unsuccessful, as representatives of the club declined to comment on the matter.
According to a February 24, 2026, letter from the club disciplinary committee seen by this publication, on November 10, 2025, one of the accused members reportedly used abusive language to a fellow club member, which the officials say was against the Club by-laws.
The letter further indicates that on November 10, 2025, one of the suspended members also allegedly performed the club duties without formal instructions, which officials say was against the club’s settings, intended to encourage, instigate and create malicious propaganda, among other claims.