BETRAYAL! Sh2.2Bn Stolen From Rwanyarare’s Bank Account as Court Orders Sale of Cars, Cows to Clear Nakasero Hospital Bill

Shock and disbelief have engulfed the family of veteran UPC titan Dr. James William Rwanyarare after it emerged that a staggering Sh2.2 billion vanished from his bank account while he lay mentally ill and incapacitated at Nakasero Hospital.

Family insiders say the former UPC supremo—whose political career once shaped national debate—entrusted two of his children to manage his finances when he was admitted three years ago with what is believed to be a mental illness. At the time, his bank account reportedly contained about Sh2.2bn, money that was meant to safeguard his care and wellbeing.

But when Nakasero Hospital presented a Sh265 million bill upon his discharge, the caretakers could produce only Sh200 million. That is when the shocker surfaced: the once-loaded account had been emptied to zero.

With no explanation for the missing billions, panic gripped the sprawling family, which includes children from several mothers. As of April 28, 2025, the balance of Sh65,438,648 remained unpaid. The hospital has reportedly treated the UPC stalwart on credit since 2022.

Rwanyarare

To make matters worse, a 2024 court order had barred any sale of his property without judicial authorisation, placing the family in a legal chokehold.

COURT INTERVENES

Realising that the money meant for his survival had evaporated, the family rushed back to court seeking emergency permission to sell his assets.

On October 21, 2025, Lady Justice Jeanne Rwakakooko granted the plea, authorising the sale of three motor vehicles and 18 cows to clear the outstanding hospital bill. The judge warned that any further delay could jeopardise the politician’s health, stressing that “the welfare of the patient is paramount.”

Before the ruling, court heard that the applicants—Caroline Kahamutama and Adam Kakuru Rwanyarare—had contacted all siblings via email and a family WhatsApp group. Everyone agreed, except two siblings who repeatedly went silent.

With all legal requirements satisfied, the court issued the order:

Cars UAH 117R, UAW 751U, UAH 876P and 18 cows from the Nyabushozi–Kikatsi farm must be sold to the highest bidder.

The family must fully account for the proceeds after the sale.

For a man who once stood at the helm of UPC politics and advocated fiercely for disability rights, the fall is heartbreaking: from Sh2.2bn in the bank to selling cows to settle hospital debts.

THE SH3BN GOVERNMENT DEBT THAT COULD HAVE SAVED HIM

Ironically, Rwanyarare is still owed Sh3 billion by the Government of Uganda.

Family members say efforts to recover the money have been deliberately frustrated by officials at the Ministry of Finance, who are allegedly demanding kickbacks to “facilitate” the process.

Rwanyarare has stood firm, insisting he bought the land in question in 1975 and will not bow to extortion.

This debt stems from a long and bitter legal battle.

In 2010, after a decade-long court fight, the High Court in Mbarara ordered the Government to pay Rwanyarare Sh2.9bn in compensation for land unlawfully taken from him.

However, family sources say efforts to get this money have been frustrated some officials in the Ministry of Finance who are reportedly demanding to have their “beaks wetted first” in order for them to generate an appetite to quicken the payment process.

Rwanyarare insists he bought the land in 1975 with his money and won’t cow to get rich quick demands from his paymasters.

It should be recalled that in 2010, after a lengthy legal showdown, the High Court in Mbarara ordered the Government to pay sh2.9b in compensation to the former UPC supremo.

This was after the Attorney General (AG) and 23 others lost the case in which the Government was accused of forcefully acquiring Rwanyarare’s 800 hectares of land on Ankole ranching scheme.

His lawyer Ngaruye Ruhindi told court that in 1976 Rwanyarare bought Ranch No. 3 in the then Ankole Ranching Scheme from James Kangaho. The land is situated in Kayonza village in Kiruhura district. In 1983, he was registered as proprietor upon being given a lease of 21 years backdated to run from 1st November 1966. This was apparently because Kangaho had applied for a lease but the same had not been granted before he sold it to Rwanyarare, who went on to develop the farm with exotic cattle, desilted valley dams, partitioned it into paddocks and did the fencing. He also had eucalyptus trees.

But all this changed on 10th November 1990, when some army men and LDUs invaded the farm in company of civilians with local or indigenous cattle and settled on part of the farm. Rwanyarare protested the invasion to no avail. He reported to local LCs and the Police but was told no one would interfere with settlement of landless cattle keepers. As a result, Rwanyarare said he lost cattle totaling 876 due to infections from ticks brought by the invaders. His paddocks and fencing were damaged plus other property like dams and eucalyptus forests. In 2004, the government gave him a cheque for Shs. 17,0, 000 which he treated as part payment.

Seven years after the invasion, the government sent a surveyor, the late Paul Bakashabaruhanga who surveyed 3.17. square miles which were partitioned into small portions where the 22 Defendants were settled. Rwanyarare was left with 3 square miles. This prompted Rwanyarare in 2001 to sue the government. He asked the court to award him Sh1.602,589.300 as value of the 3.17 Sq. miles given to the herdsmen, Sh 526,800,000 as value of 878 head of cattle that died, Sh3.5bn as general damages for lost income from sale of cattle and costs of the suit.

Following deliberations that lasted ten years, in 2010, Justice Lawrence Gidudu ordered the Government to pay sh1.7b to Rwanyarare for special damages and sh1.2b for general damages.

Fifteen years after the ruling, Rwanyarare hasn’t reportedly gotten any coin from the government.

The Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Attorney General which is under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs have been contacted for a comment