Canon Agaba Maguru, company secretary of Garuga Properties Ltd, is reportedly undergoing treatment after suffering a stroke due to heightened pressure and tension regarding the handling of late tycoon vast wealth and his suspicious death, according to sources close to him.
Maguru is currently receiving treatment at Nakasero hospital in Kampala as an out patient.
The development comes amid an ongoing legal dispute in Kampala over the handling of UGX 800 million that had been released by government as partial compensation to support the late businessman Dr James Musinguzi Garuga’s medical treatment abroad.
The dispute traces back to the government’s ranch restructuring exercise of the late 1990s, during which Ranch 35 in Mawogola associated with the Garuga family was taken over with a commitment that the owners would be compensated.
The total compensation due to the family was reportedly assessed at about UGX 13.7 billion, but payment has remained pending for years.
In early 2025, Dr Garuga developed serious health complications that required specialised treatment abroad. He reportedly petitioned the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Matia Kasaija, requesting that part of the long-outstanding compensation be released urgently to facilitate medical care.
Government subsequently processed a partial payment of UGX 800 million under payment reference No. 21418514.
According to documents referenced in court proceedings, the funds were intended for Garuga Cooperative Ltd’s account at Bank of Africa.
Dr Garuga’s son, Musinguzi Alwyn Carl Garuga, has sued Garuga Properties Ltd, its company secretary Canon Agaba Maguru, Bank of Africa (Uganda) Ltd, and the Attorney General.
The court is yet to rule on the matter.
In the suit, Mr Musinguzi alleges that the compensation was instead deposited into an account belonging to Garuga Properties Ltd at Bank of Africa, where Canon Maguru was a signatory.
He claims the destination account was changed prior to payment and that the funds were later withdrawn and used to settle purported company obligations that he describes as irregular or not properly authorised.
Musinguzi further argues that administration of his father’s estate had not been completed at the time the funds were handled and therefore the company lacked proper authority to make major financial decisions affecting the deceased shareholder’s interests.
The lawsuit also raises claims against Bank of Africa (Uganda) Ltd, alleging inadequate compliance procedures following the death of a controlling shareholder.
Government, through the Attorney General, is accused of processing payment without notifying estate beneficiaries.
Alwyn Garuga is seeking recovery of the UGX 800 million, or a portion corresponding to the estate’s shareholding, along with damages.
He is also requesting restrictions on company transactions until an estate administrator is formally appointed and asking that any future compensation payments related to the ranches be deposited in court pending resolution of disputes.
Court filings indicate that the late Dr Garuga had written from his residence in Mbuya seeking urgent government intervention to release part of the compensation specifically to fund medical treatment abroad. For the family, the payment was seen not only as long-overdue compensation but also as a critical medical lifeline.
Legal observers say the case could have broader implications for family-owned companies in Uganda, particularly where large financial transactions occur before succession processes are completed.
Sources familiar with the matter say multiple complaints have been lodged by Alwyn Musinguzi Garuga against Canon Maguru in various police stations and courts in Kampala, relating to control of company affairs and management of family property.
Friends say, Maguru has been having sleepless nights and fighting depression because of fear for his name before church of Uganda and general population that held him in high esteem but now at the center of embezzling funds meant for his former boss’s treatment abroad and now grabbing his properties now awaiting court sessions to commence and expose him .
Canon Maguru, a lay Canon in the Church of Uganda’s Kinkizi Diocese, has not publicly responded in detail to the claims before court.
Next episode we look at late Garuga’s properties including land already sold or shared by former business associates.
