Justice Collins Acellam has awarded UGX 10 million in general damages to Kengo Ismail, an Exim Bank employee who had challenged his detention and the seizure of his land title by police.In a ruling delivered on July 24, 2026, the court found that Ismail’s detention beyond 48 hours violated his constitutional right to personal liberty, but struck the Inspector General of Police off the case, leaving the Attorney General as the proper respondent.The case arose from Ismail’s arrest on January 2, 2024, at the premises of M/s Exim Bank Uganda Limited on allegations of theft of money from his employer. He told court that he was arraigned on January 5, 2024, after spending more than 48 hours in custody, later rearrested on February 10, 2024, and detained again at CPS Kampala for more than 48 hours before being released on police bond on February 20, 2024.He also claimed that he was arrested again on March 21, 2024, after leaving the Chief Magistrates Court at Buganda Road, held in cells without explanation, and released the next day without charges. Ismail argued that the detentions were unconstitutional and violated his right to personal liberty.He also claimed that police officers searched his home and seized his duplicate certificate of title for land comprised in Kyaggwe Block 119 Plot 242, which he said was registered in his name on November 15, 2012, before he joined the bank. He said the title was unrelated to the criminal case and wrote to police and the Chief Resident State Attorney seeking its return, but without success.According to his application, “That the Applicant’s detention by agents of the Respondents at CPS Kampala for a period exceeding forty-eight (48) hours, without being produced before a court of law, infringed his constitutional right to personal liberty.”He also argued that the continued retention of the title “infringed his constitutional right to protection from deprivation of property.”He sought an order for the release of the title, as well as general, punitive and exemplary damages. The respondents, represented by the Attorney General’s chambers, opposed the application and said the pleadings contained falsehoods and conjecture. They stated that the police are mandated to protect life and property, preserve law and order, and prevent and detect crime. They also said Ismail was arrested on January 2, 2024, and charged on January 5, 2024, with theft of UGX 144,545,225 from Exim Bank.Delivering his ruling, Justice Acellam said, “I therefore find that the Applicant’s detention beyond the constitutionally prescribed forty-eight (48) hours violated his right to personal liberty under Article 23(4) of the Constitution.”He added that, “In view of my finding under Issue 1 that the Applicant’s right to personal liberty was violated by detention beyond the constitutionally prescribed forty-eight (48) hours, I find that he is entitled to compensation. I therefore award the Applicant general damages of UGX 10,000,000/- for the violation of his right to personal liberty.” The post Exim Bank Employee Wins Lawsuit Against IGP, AG Over Wrongful Arrest appeared first on Business Focus.