Two Lawyers Remanded in Ugx 900m Land Scam

Two Ugandan advocates have been remanded to Luzira Prison after appearing before Buganda Road on charges of forgery and obtaining 917 million shilings by falsely pretending to enter into a lease agreement with 2 foreign nationals. 

The two, Mwanjuzi Bob and Kalamu Lawrence are charged alongside two Ethiopian nationals –  Tigist Ayalew Melkamu and Sisay Bekure Melkamu, who remain at large.

Chief magistrate Ronald Kayiizi has ordered for their arrest before the 13th/ August 2025.

Chief State Attorneys  Joan Keko and  Jonathan Muwaganya from the office of  Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)  presented the charges against the accused. 

The prosecutors have outlined five counts, including forgery, uttering false documents, conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining UGX 917 million by false pretences, and engaging in private business without a valid permit.

It is alleged that on April 20, 2023, the accused forged a lease agreement between SEMA Holding Ltd and Ephrata Investments Group Ltd, which they used to defraud Kalpana Abe of UGX 917 million, falsely claiming the money was an investment secured by the lease.

Keko revealed  that  investigations are still on-going and  applied for a warrant of arrest against the two Ethiopian nationals, emphasizing that they are not Ugandan citizens.

Magistrate Kayizzi granted the application and issued arrest warrants for Tigist and Sisay, to be brought to court on August 13 at 9:00 a.m.

Defence lawyers Kisembo Christopher and Herbert Kidia informed court of their intention to apply for bail but requested more time to prepare documents and upload them on the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).

Meanwhile, Mwanjuzi and Kalamu were remanded as efforts continue to apprehend their co-accused.

The Ethiopians, both residents of Kisasi-Bukoto in Nakawa Division, Kampala, face additional allegations against  for engaging in private business in Uganda without a valid immigration permit since 2021.