Kampala, (UG):- Renowned businessman Robert Twinomujuni has been charged and remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly engaging in a fraudulent land transaction in southwestern Uganda’s Ntungamo district.
Twinomujuni, 61, appeared before Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on Friday, April 12, and was read for the 10 counts of uttering false documents and conspiracy to defraud, which he vividly pleaded not guilty to.
He is charged alongside Samson Arinaitwe, 43, the administrator of the land in question, who is still at large over 21 counts of fraud.
Twinomujuni applied for bail through his lawyer Maxim Mutabingwa and presented five sureties including his brother Peterson Mwesigwa, an assistant lecturer at Makerere University, but, the request was intercepted by State prosecution.
The Chief state attorney, Ms Joan Keko asked the court for four days to verify the documents presented in court by the sureties, prompting the chief magistrate to remand him until April 18, 2024.
“We have received a letter from a local council chairman denying knowledge of the sureties in one of the cases in which this court has released a suspect for bail. Unlike other courts, this court is faced with the problem of hired sureties. Therefore, the prosecution’s request for an adjournment is granted. The accused is remanded until April 18, 2024,” Magistrate Kayizzi ruled.
In regard to the charges, Mutabingwa said they have been rushed in the pendency of a civil matter over the same land at Mbarara High Court.
He said that Twinomujuni allegedly bought the land in question at sh800m and that Mbarara High Court has since ordered for examination of the signatures in question by a handwriting expert.
Case Background
Prosecution alleges that between June and December 2020, in Kampala and Ntungamo districts, Twinomujuni and Arinaitwe conspired to defraud the beneficiaries of their beneficial interest in the land in question.
The beneficiaries of the land in question are Simon Nsekanabo, Winfred Musimenta, Richard Apollo Rutaro, Edith Busingye, Prudence Namara, Beatrice Kisembo Rugarama, and Betty Rugarama.
It is alleged that on February 18, 2021, at Ntungamo police station in Ntungamo district, the accused knowingly and fraudulently uttered a forged acknowledgement receipt of money from the sale of land purporting to have been signed by the beneficiaries whereas not.
The duo is also accused of uttering forged copies of the national identity cards for the beneficiaries in regard to the transaction.
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