Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s top most lawyer, Isaac Ssemakadde has threatened to drag NBS Television and its Chief Executive, Kin Kariisa, to court over what he terms as a “malicious and defamatory” investigative report linking him to a fraudulent gold scam worth $840,000.
In a formal notice of intention to sue dated May 6, 2025, served through Mukiibi & Kyeyune Advocates, Ssemakadde, who is also the Uganda Law Society President and #BangTheTable spearhead, is demanding a public apology, complete retraction of the report, and a staggering Shs11 billion (approx. $3 million) in general, exemplary, and punitive damages following the story aired by the Naguru-based station aired the story under its #NBSInvestigates segment titled “Bang the Gold: Radical New Gold Scam”.
In the story that aired on May 5, 2025, NBS alleged that Ssemakadde and a law firm he is attached to; Maxim Advocates, were central actors in a sophisticated scam involving counterfeit gold, money laundering, and the defrauding of American investor Robert Turner.
According to NBS, Turner wired $840,000 in November 2024 to Maxim Advocates’ account at Stanbic Bank Uganda, reportedly to cover taxes and logistics for a 150kg gold shipment facilitated by Green Wave International Ltd, a firm linked to Ssemakadde’s legal practice. Bank documents aired by NBS show that $750,000 of that amount was quickly transferred to Mohamed Abdi Rashid—whose name has featured in previous gold scam investigations.
NBS further alleged that Maxim Advocates had included its own bank details in the invoice sent to Turner, suggesting active complicity in the transaction. The exposé relied on leaked emails, bank statements, and whistleblower accounts that claimed the law firm played a key role in laundering proceeds from the scam.
Ssemakadde Responds
Responding to the story aired by NBS, Ssemakadde has fired back in a notice threatening to sue the Station and it’s Chief Executive Kin Kariisa, whom he accuse of broadcasting falsehoods, breaching professional journalistic standards, and violating his right to privacy by airing his image and voice without consent.
The Radical New Bar chief also dismissed the accusations as fabricated, calling the broadcast a calculated smear campaign designed to damage his public standing and integrity.
“Our client has never been involved in any gold transaction with the said American investor nor received instructions to facilitate the same,” the notice reads. It adds that the report has exposed Ssemakadde to public ridicule, cyber-harassment, and reputational loss.
As compensation from the damages caused both to his reputation and persona, Ssemakadde is now demanding that NBS issues an unqualified public apology aired on prime-time TV, pulls down the broadcast from all online platforms, Pays Shs11 billion in damages, and preserves all evidence pending potential legal proceedings.
Ssemakadde joins a growing list of high-profile individuals who have come under the media spotlight for alleged ties to the multimillion gold fraud, but his sharp legal pushback has turned the heat onto the media house instead.
By press time on Tuesday, neither Kariisa nor Next Media had issued a public statement responding to the legal threats.
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