The High Court has dealt another setback to International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judge Julia Sebutinde and her co-defendants by extending an earlier order halting construction of the controversial Bugolobi apartment project until the final determination of the main suit.
In an order issued on June 16, 2026, Registrar Kintu Simon Zirintusa renewed the temporary injunction that had initially been granted in January this year, effectively barring any further construction works at Plot 8, Princess Anne Drive, Bugolobi.
The renewed order arose from Miscellaneous Application No. 0499 of 2026, itself arising from Miscellaneous Application No. 1106 of 2025 and High Court Civil Suit No. 470 of 2025.
“It is hereby ordered that a Temporary Injunction granted on 12th day of January 2026 by this honourable court halting the multi-storied commercial apartments’ building operation at Plot 8, Princess Anne Drive, Bugolobi, Nakawa Division, Kampala Capital City is hereby renewed and extended until the final disposal of the main suit,” the order states.
The injunction had originally been granted for six months after residents and neighbouring property owners challenged the legality of the multi-storey apartment project linked to Justice Sebutinde, her husband John Bagunywa Ssebutinde, site supervisor Joseph Wamala and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
At the time, the court held that the residents had established a prima facie case and that allowing construction to continue would expose them to irreparable harm, including alleged invasion of privacy, dust, noise and continuous disruption.
The latest order means that the developers cannot lawfully resume construction while awaiting the outcome of the substantive case, which has already been fixed for hearing before the High Court on June 22, 2026.
The extension of the injunction comes barely two months after the High Court dismissed an attempt to halt related criminal proceedings arising from allegations that a KCCA stop order issued against the construction project had been ignored.
In that ruling, Justice Alex Mackay Ajiji rejected efforts to terminate the private prosecution before plea-taking, holding that the issues raised should instead be determined during trial and directing that the criminal proceedings be fast-tracked.
With the construction freeze now extended until the final determination of the civil suit, Judge Sebutinde finds herself battling on two legal fronts, as both the civil and criminal proceedings surrounding the Bugolobi apartment project continue to gather momentum.
The outcome of the main suit is expected to determine not only the fate of the disputed apartment block but could also shape future debates on compliance with Kampala’s planning and building regulations, regardless of the status of those involved.
