The Board of Directors of the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRA) has appointed Dr. Protazio Sande as Acting Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2026.
Dr Sande, who serves substantively as the Director of Strategy and Market Development, steps into the role under Clause 6.11(h) of the body’s Human Capital Management Manual (2023).
His appointment follows the automatic expiration of Alhaj Dr Ibrahim Kaddunabbi Lubega’s five-year employment contract on May 31, 2026. However, Sande’s transition to the helm arrives amidst an escalating boardroom and legal warfare.
Dr. Kaddunabbi, who has guided Uganda’s insurance industry for 16 years, has petitioned the Civil Division of the High Court. Represented by Arcadia Advocates, the former CEO is seeking a judicial review to quash a February 16, 2026 Board decision that declined to recommend him for a contract extension.
Dr Kaddunabbi argues that he was denied a fair hearing and maintains that the term limits introduced by the Insurance Act of 2017 cannot be applied retrospectively to block his renewal. He points to stellar industry growth, regional expansion, and digital transformations during his long tenure as justification for an extension.
In a swift counter-response through Dentons Advocates, the IRA and former Board Chairperson Dr. Isaac Nkote Nabeta have asked High Court Judge Joyce Kavuma to dismiss the application with costs. The regulator contends that Kaddunabbi’s case has been overtaken by events.
Court documents filed by the Board reveal deep governance disputes, citing an Auditor General’s report from May 15, 2026, which flagged unauthorized salary enhancements amounting to Shs 337 million, irregular staff recruitments costing Shs 647 million, and unapproved leave monetizations under Kaddunabbi’s leadership. The Board asserted that its final decision was a collective 5:3 majority vote.
IRA legal representative John Musiime argued that granting Kaddunabbi’s request would create an “absurd situation” of having two individuals simultaneously claiming control over public resources. Security and legal friction intensified on Monday when the IRA issued a cease-and-desist notice against Kaddunabbi, accusing him of unlawfully entering the premises and attempting to command staff.
Justice Kavuma has directed both parties to file their final written submissions, setting June 12, 2026, for further directions. Meanwhile, the IRA Board expressed absolute confidence in Dr. Sande’s capability to sustain institutional stability and momentum during this volatile transition.