Ekemu Scrapped From Advocate List

By Hillary Nsambu JOSEPH Ekemu, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, was yesterday struck off the roll of advocates by the Law Council Disciplinary Committee over his gross professional misconduct. Suresh Amlatlal Ghelani, a Kampala businessman, had complained to the Law Council that Ekemu had obtained on his behalf sh30,108,300 from the Solicitor General in March 1999, but put it to his personal use without Ghelani’s consent. Agaba Maguru, a member of the committee ruled that the charges against Ekemu were of a very grave nature. The committee said it was satisfied that Ekemu acted fraudulently by using the client’s money and failing to account for it. “Ekemu is a former Attorney General and a senior counsel who is expected to know better and be a good example to upcoming lawyers. It is sad he has not exhibited any professional ethics and has just finished serving a criminal sentence in Luzira Prison, yet he is not repentant,” they said. The committee ordered Ekemu to pay the money. Ends