The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has remanded the Kampala District Land Board Chairperson, lawyer David Balondemu, on charges of forgery involving medical documents.
Balondemu, who was arrested over the weekend at the airport upon his return to the country, is jointly charged with Mulago Medical Doctor Hassan Ssegujja, who did not appear in court.
Balondemu appeared before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi, who read out three counts, including conspiracy to commit a felony.
The court heard that Balondemu, Ssegujja, and others still at large, in 2023, at Kampala Hospital, knowingly and fraudulently made a false document—a prescription medical form dated November 7, 2023. It is also alleged that the duo forged a CT scan form dated June 12, 2023, at the same hospital.
“Inquiries in this matter are complete. However, before the matter is fixed for hearing, the co-accused is not in court. He is on a warrant of arrest issued by this court. We pray for the warrant to be extended,” said State Attorney Viola Tusingwire.
Balondemu denied the charges and requested bail, citing that he had spent four days in police custody, which violated his right to a speedy hearing. He presented three sureties: Sarah Nalwoga, a businesswoman operating a hardware store on Namugongo Road; David Musinguzi, a store assistant in the Ministry of Water and Environment; and Betty Nakayima, his sister and a chemist on Kinawataka Road.
The court sought to verify Nalwoga’s relationship with Balondemu. Each surety was asked to write down their father’s name on a piece of paper, which was then reviewed by Magistrate Kayizzi, who confirmed the familial ties, adding that many sureties often lie about such connections, with 90 percent failing similar checks.
Through his lawyer, Hassan Kamba, Balondemu argued that while criminal summons had been issued against him, he was not aware of them as they were not personally served, and he is not an ardent newspaper reader. He emphasized that he had always willingly attended court for other cases.
State Attorney Tusingwire requested more time to verify the documents submitted by the defense, noting that she had just received them. She explained that further time was needed to review the documents and prepare affidavits to respond to Balondemu’s bail application. The case was adjourned to October 21, 2024, for the state to present its response.
Background of the Case
Balondemu’s legal troubles began in 2023 when he was arraigned at Buganda Road Court on charges of conspiring with others to obtain money by pretense. The state alleged that Balondemu and his co-accused fraudulently obtained US$553,000 from KG Unlimited LLC between November 2022 and April 2023 by falsely promising a contract for supplying agricultural drone sprayers and fertilizers on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries.
His arraignment followed his earlier release from City Hall Magistrates Court on charges related to defrauding a Korean investor in a bogus gold deal worth 2.2 billion shillings. Although these charges were later dismissed due to lack of evidence, new allegations emerged during his bail application at Buganda Road Court.
As part of the bail application, Balondemu presented documents stating he was scheduled for surgery at Kampala Hospital, aiming to secure temporary freedom. However, the authenticity of these documents was questioned by State Attorney Ivan Kyazze, who verified with Kampala Hospital that Balondemu had never been a patient there.
According to Kampala Hospital CEO Dr. Peter Kibuuka, there were no records of Balondemu scheduled for surgery on the claimed dates, nor had he ever been treated there. “The purported documents dated June 2, 2023, and November 7, 2023, were not authored by Kampala Hospital,” wrote Dr. Kibuuka in a letter to the Director CID Kibuuli.
Consequently, charges of forgery were brought against Balondemu. Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko had previously warned Balondemu and his legal team that if the documents were proven false, he would face additional charges. Today, Balondemu was charged and remanded to Luzira Prison, with a return to court set for October 21, 2024, for further proceedings. Balondemu’s remand comes as warrants of arrest remain active against Dr. Ssegujja, who has yet to appear in court.
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