Bamwine allegedly leveraged his diplomatic title to win the confidence of high-profile clients in Kampala’s real estate market before disputes over payment and land authenticity surfaced.
Kampala, Uganda: The Kingdom of Eswatini has revoked the appointment of its Honorary Consul to Uganda, Mr Quilino Bamwine, just days after Uganda’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) summoned him over explosive allegations of land fraud amounting to USD 372,000 (approximately Shs1.4 billion) in two failed property deals in Kololo and Naguru, Kampala’s high-end suburbs.
The summons, issued by the Kampala Metropolitan Police CID on October 21, 2025, under reference KMP GEF 285/2025, pins Bamwine of “obtaining money by false pretences” in what investigators describe as a criminal land sale scheme involving businessman Joel Kakira.
According to the official police communication seen by DailyExpress, the letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and copied to Bamwine reads in part:
“Kampala Metropolitan Police is investigating an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretences, to wit USD 372,000, by Hon. Bamwine Quilino from Mr Kakira Joel, in two land sale transactions within Kololo and Naguru.”
Bamwine, who has served as Eswatini’s Honorary Consul in Kampala, was directed to report to Room 75, CPS Building, Kampala on October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., to record a statement and provide all relevant documentation related to the transactions.
Sources close to the ongoing investigation confirmed that Bamwine complied with the CID summons and that his interrogation revealed deeper irregularities, including alleged extortion tactics where he reportedly withheld funds following the collapse of the land deals.
According to security sources, Bamwine allegedly leveraged his diplomatic title to win the confidence of high-profile clients in Kampala’s real estate market before disputes over payment and land authenticity surfaced.
Eswatini acts swiftly
In a dramatic diplomatic response, Ambassador Mahlaba A. Mamba, Eswatini’s top envoy in Uganda, revoked Bamwine’s appointment on October 31, 2025, citing “repeated unprofessional and unacceptable misconduct.”
The revocation letter, copied to Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accuses Bamwine of ignoring a prior warning issued on September 19 and engaging in a “criminal transaction that compromised the reputation of the Kingdom of Eswatini.”
“His continued unprofessional conduct and defiance of embassy directives are incompatible with diplomatic decorum. The Kingdom of Eswatini upholds integrity and will not tolerate actions that jeopardise our relations or reputation,” Ambassador Mamba wrote.
Foreign Affairs Confirms Investigation, Cites “Grave Concerns”
Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed receipt of the CID summons on October 22, acknowledging what officials described as “grave concerns” about Bamwine’s conduct.
Senior Foreign Affairs officials contacted over the weekend told DailyExpress that the ministry had earlier flagged ethical breaches by Bamwine and cautioned the Eswatini mission against potential “misuse of diplomatic privilege.”
Since honorary consuls do not enjoy full diplomatic immunity, Bamwine faces potential arrest and prosecution under Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Act if sufficient evidence of fraud is established.
Bamwine’s case lifts the mark of the growing concerns over honorary consular appointments, which are largely voluntary diplomatic roles often filled by local businesspeople. Diplomatic analysts warn that the absence of stringent vetting mechanisms has allowed individuals to exploit such positions for personal enrichment and influence trading.
According to recent data from the Uganda Land Commission (ULC), at least 500 land fraud cases have been registered in Kampala alone this year, with victims including foreign investors and diaspora buyers lured into fraudulent property schemes by trusted intermediaries.
Anti-corruption watchdogs have since called for a public disclosure of the investigation’s findings, warning that the scandal could strain bilateral relations and deter investment flows between Uganda and Eswatini, particularly in the real estate and trade sectors.
“This case should serve as a turning point in regulating honorary diplomatic roles and curbing abuse of privilege,” a Watchdog Uganda spokesperson told DailyExpress. “Transparency must prevail to protect Uganda’s diplomatic integrity.”
Efforts to reach Mr Quilino Bamwine for comment were unsuccessful. His office in Kampala remained closed on Monday when reached out by this reporter, and the staff at the premises also declined to respond to inquiries.
But CID investigators say the probe is ongoing and criminal charges are being prepared, depending on the outcome of forensic audits and document verification. “We have strong leads and expect to conclude investigations soon,” a senior CID officer said. “If evidence confirms fraud, prosecution will proceed.”
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