KAMPALA, Uganda – A bombshell whistleblower report has been submitted to the Chief Justice of Uganda, alleging widespread case management irregularities and a “systemic pattern of procedural disposal” in money-lending matters at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.
The report, dated November 28, 2025, and obtained by this publication, paints a disturbing picture of a court system where vulnerable borrowers are routinely denied a fair hearing, while a specific financial institution, Clarks Financial Services Ltd, and its lawyer-director, Aggrey Wagubi, benefit from an overwhelming number of default judgments.
A System Skewed by Defaults
The investigation, which analyzed 78 cases filed by Clarks Financials between 2024 and 2025, reveals that the scales of justice are heavily tilted. The data shows that a staggering 61.5% of all cases (48 out of 78) ended in default judgment, meaning the borrower failed to appear and the lender won by default.
In stark contrast, only 3 cases (3.8%) ever reached a substantive hearing where evidence could be examined and the merits of the claim contested.
“This pattern demonstrates a systemic lock-out of defendants,” the report states. “They are being denied the opportunity to be heard, undermining the constitutional right to a fair hearing under Article 28.”
“Statistically Irregular” Clustering of Cases Before Four Magistrates
A key finding raising red flags is the extreme concentration of cases before a small group of judicial officers. The report found that a remarkable 94.8% of Clarks Financials’ cases (74 of 78) were handled by just four magistrates: Winnie Nankya, Alex Niyonzima, Basajabalaba Jalia, and Dan Mwesigwa.
Magistrate Nankya alone presided over 26 cases. The report describes this clustering as “statistically unlikely to be random” and a strong indicator of “forum shopping” – a practice where a party files cases in a specific court known to be favourable to their interests.
The “Lawyer-Lender” Conflict of Interest
At the heart of the alleged abuse is the dual role of Mr. Aggrey Wagubi, who acts as both the Director of Clarks Financial Services and the legal counsel representing the company in court.
The whistleblower labels this a “severe structural conflict,” allowing one individual to draft loan agreements, file suits, represent the lender, and potentially influence court processes. This combination, the report argues, “unfairly tilts the scale of justice against borrowers” and offends ethical codes for legal practitioners.
“The lawyer-lender becomes a private legislature, a private prosecutor, and a private judge-in-waiting,” the report warns, highlighting how this dynamic exploits the profound legal and financial illiteracy of most Ugandan borrowers.
A Call for Urgent Judicial Action
The whistleblower has called on the Office of the Chief Justice to take immediate action, including:
- A formal investigation into case filing patterns and the high frequency of default judgments.
- An audit of all money-lending matters at Buganda Road Court over the last two years.
- An investigation into legal practitioners who own or manage money-lending entities they represent in court.
- A judicial practice direction to ensure defendants were properly served and not coerced into “consent judgments.”
The report concludes with a stark warning: if left unaddressed, these practices risk entrenching predatory lending, corroding judicial neutrality, and eroding public confidence in Uganda’s entire justice system.
As of the time of publishing, there has been no public response from the Judiciary or the named parties regarding these allegations.
