Overview:
The letter, dated May 29, 2026, reveals the extent of the behind-the-scenes battle that has engulfed Uganda's insurance sector regulator and culminated in a board decision not to renew Dr Kaddunabbi's contract.
KAMPALA — The outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), Alhaj Dr Kaddunabbi Ibrahim Lubega, privately appealed to Senior Presidential Adviser Gen Caleb Akandwanaho, commonly known as Salim Saleh, to intervene in a bitter dispute over the renewal of his contract, according to a letter seen by Kikubolane.
The letter, dated May 29, 2026, reveals the extent of the behind-the-scenes battle that has engulfed Uganda’s insurance sector regulator and culminated in a board decision not to renew Dr Kaddunabbi’s contract.
In the two-page letter addressed to Gen Saleh, Dr Kaddunabbi sought urgent intervention, saying his tenure as IRA chief executive was due to expire on May 31.
“I write to you with the utmost respect, seeking your intervention regarding my current employment situation,” he wrote.
The letter indicates that the two had previously met on April 22 to discuss the matter.
At the centre of the dispute is an apparent fallout between Dr Kaddunabbi and officials in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, under whose supervision the regulator operates.
In the letter, Dr Kaddunabbi claims that the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PS/ST), Mr Ramathan Ggoobi, was working against him and frustrating efforts to secure a new term.
“As I communicate, the situation seems very uncertain. I am now certain that PS/ST Mr Ggoobi’s intention is to hit me and completely destroy me beyond,” he wrote.
He further appealed to Gen Saleh to ensure that his contract renewal was processed “without prejudice.”
The letter also reveals that Dr Kaddunabbi sought a reconciliation meeting involving himself, Mr Ggoobi and Gen Saleh in a bid to salvage his position.
“In view of the foregoing, and aware that we are brothers with no reason why we fight each other, I kindly request you… to cause a mediatory meeting between PS/ST Mr Ggoobi and myself, chaired by yourself, with a view to harmonise us so as to allow me serve my last term as Chief Executive Officer at the Insurance Regulatory Authority 2026-2031,” he wrote.
The revelations emerge just days after the IRA Board moved to appoint Dr Sande Protaze as acting chief executive officer following the expiry of Dr Kaddunabbi’s contract.
The appointment triggered a fresh legal battle after Dr Kaddunabbi rushed to court challenging the board’s decision.
In a dramatic twist, the High Court subsequently issued interim orders halting the implementation of the board’s decision pending determination of the dispute.
The court order temporarily blocks actions arising from the board’s decision not to renew Dr Kaddunabbi’s contract, creating uncertainty over the leadership of the regulator.
The latest developments mark the climax of a succession battle that has played out largely behind closed doors over recent months.
Dr Kaddunabbi has served as IRA chief executive since 2021 and has overseen a period of growth in Uganda’s insurance industry, including increased insurance penetration, regulatory reforms and the implementation of digital innovations within the sector.
However, sources familiar with the matter say tensions between the regulator’s top leadership, the board and officials within the Finance Ministry have been simmering for months ahead of the expiry of his contract.
The contents of the letter suggest that Dr Kaddunabbi viewed the dispute as more than a routine contract renewal process and believed only intervention from one of President Museveni’s closest advisers could save his position.
The letter also contains repeated references to his service to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government and his contributions to national development.
“I remain committed to serving my NRM Government and the people of Uganda diligently,” he wrote.
The IRA Board has not publicly explained in detail the reasons behind its decision not to renew Dr Kaddunabbi’s contract.
Likewise, neither Gen Saleh nor Mr Ggoobi had publicly commented on the contents of the letter by press time.
The High Court proceedings are now expected to determine whether the board’s actions were lawful and whether Dr Kaddunabbi can remain in office beyond the expiry of his current term.
The case is likely to attract significant attention within government and the financial services sector because of its implications for the independence of regulators, corporate governance within public institutions and the future leadership of Uganda’s insurance industry.
For now, the court order has temporarily halted the transition, setting the stage for a legal showdown that could decide who ultimately leads the Insurance Regulatory Authority.