Chief Magistrate Rachel Nakyazze has terminated corruption charges against Baker Mugaino, the Commissioner for Land Registration, arguing that the Inspector General of Government (IGG) failed to file fresh accusations against him in time.
Nakyazze’s November 6th decision comes two months after Justice Collins Acellam of the High Court ordered the IGG to pay Mugaino Shs 50 million in damages over unlawful interdiction.
Mugaino was interdicted by former IGG, Beti Kamya, in April this year on allegations of corruption.
“He is therefore set free unless held on another charge. The bail deposited in this court as security for his temporary release be refunded,” Nakyazze ruled.
Mugaino’s lawyer, Anthony Bazira of Byenkya, Kihika & Co. Advocates, accused the IGG of playing semantics by resurrecting a case that had been quashed.
Ex-IGG Beti Kamya wrongfully interdicted Baker Mugaino. He’ll receive Shs 50 million in damages
“This would be semantics as there is no criminal case without a charge sheet. Then what would be the proceedings about if there were no charges levied upon the accused?” Bazira querried.
Moses Nunuwa for the IGG resisted, claiming the High Court order was unclear because it lacked the case number and that an appeal was imminent. Nunuwa said they would appeal the order, noting that the window remained open after Acellam’s order issued on October 22, 2025.
But Nakyazze rejected the arguments.
“In practice, an order of court begins to operate when a party obtains a certified copy of the signed and sealed order from the registrar of the court is essential to confirm its effective date and proceed with any necessary action or enforcement,” she said.
The decision marks another legal setback for the IGG, which has a new head, Justice Aisha Naluzze.
Mugaino’s wrongful interdiction has been cited as one of the reasons President Museveni declined to renew Beti Kamya’s contract as IGG.
