If you take DFCU Bank to court armed with a street-side lawyer, you had better be ready to deal with a formidable and experienced army of lawyers that the bank has retained to fight its legal wars.
It is very unusual for a company, let alone a wealthy individual in Uganda, to retain the services of more than three top lawyers in town.
However, in DFCU’s case, it has a roster of 13 legal firms on its books. These are not just ordinary law firms; they are the very best in Uganda. These firms employ experienced legal professionals who have become experts in various fields. These law firms generate billions of shillings every year by representing major clients, such as DFCU.
Let’s go!
At the top on DFCU’s books is S&L Advocates which is arguably the biggest law firm in Uganda. Formerly Sebalu and Lule, the firm is now sherpherded by James Mukasa Sebugenyi, a former president of the Uganda Law Society (ULS). It has 10 partners and 23 associates. Beat that!
If for some reason S&L Advocates is unable or very engaged, DFCU can turn to K&K Sdvocates, whose senior partners are Edwin Karugire, President Museveni’s son-in-law, and Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the Attorney General? Imagine that!
Okay, you think you can beat that? Here comes Alan Shonubi of SM&Co Advocates (formerly Shonubi Musoke and Co. Advocates). Shonubi, one of the most prominent and seasoned lawyers in Uganda, is on DFCU’s books.
But the bank still has more legal ammunition. They can call on David Mpanga of A.F. Mpanga Advocates, who sits in their fancy building in Nakasero, or better still, they can engage Timothy Masembe or Apollo Makubuya of MMAKS Advocates. These, too, are on DFCU’s books.
That’s not all.
If you are a businessman and you borrow money from DFCU and somehow fail to pay it, the bank could foreclose on your business or property, which you used as collateral. Here, they will turn to Kabiito Karamagi, one of the best insolvency lawyers in town. Karamagi could be accompanied by Ruth Sebatindira, a former ULS president, his partner at Ligomarc Advocates.
Other law firms retained by DFCU are Arcadia Advocates, co-founded by Isaac Bakayana, a lecturer at the School of Law, Makerere University. There are KTA Advocates of Edgar Tabaro and Asmaheny Saad; Muganwa Nanteza and Co Advocates; Amber Solicitors and Advocates; Kentaro Mugerwa and Company Advocates; KSMO Advocates and Kalenge, Bwanika, Ssawa & Co. Advocates.
It is not clear how much DFCU Group spends on legal bills but from the above list, it anticipated to be in billions of shillings a year. So when you take DFCU to court, know which lawyer or law firm you will come up against.
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