Lawyer Remanded Over UGX 193M Bogus Land Transaction

The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded a Kampala-based lawyer to Luzira Prison over allegations of obtaining Shs193 million by false pretences in a disputed land transaction. Jimmy Awanga, 49, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on Wednesday for plea taking and denied the charges.

According to the charge sheet presented by the prosecution led by Grace Amy, Awanga, a lawyer and resident of Najjera II in Kira Municipality, Nakawa Division, is accused of obtaining Shs193 million from Ronald Mutebi by falsely claiming that he was selling land comprised in Kyadondo Block 82 Plot 3650 measuring 1.820 hectares located at Kiryamuli.

The prosecution alleges that the offence was committed on February 20, 2025, at Buganda Road Flats in Kampala with the intent to defraud. The court heard that investigations into the matter are complete, and the state requested a hearing date. However, defence lawyer Samuel Ejoku informed the court that he had instructions to apply for bail and that all the necessary documents had already been uploaded onto the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).

Chief Magistrate Kidasa, however, said she was unable to access the documents on the court network and therefore could not proceed with the bail application. “I cannot access your documents on the network. I am also unable to handle the bail application today,” the magistrate ruled. She later adjourned the matter to June 4, 2026 for hearing of the bail application.

The court also ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence. Pius Tebandeke attended the proceedings as watching brief counsel on behalf of the complainant, Ronald Mutebi, who was present in court. According to brief facts contained in the police file, investigations commenced after Mutebi lodged a complaint under KMP GEF 203/2025, accusing Awanga of fraudulently obtaining money from him in a land transaction.

Detectives reportedly established that the disputed land had allegedly been purchased from Stockwell Investments Capital Limited at a total consideration of Shs600 million under a sales agreement dated February 20, 2024. Investigators further allege that Awanga presented himself as acting on behalf of the company and reportedly instructed the complainant to deposit part of the purchase money amounting to Shs150 million into his personal Housing Finance Bank account.

Police also claim that an additional Shs43 million was later paid on June 4, 2024, after the accused allegedly promised to clear encumbrances on the land and hand over vacant possession. The prosecution contends that the suspect later became unreachable and failed to complete the transaction or refund the money-URN.