KAMPALA, Uganda — Kampala-based lawyer Drake Twebaze Katabazi has been remanded to Luzira Prison by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, facing charges of conspiring to defraud an American company of over Shs 2 billion (approximately $553,000 USD).
Mr Katabazi is accused of working with others, including David Balondemu, the Chairman of the Kampala District Land Board.
During his court appearance on Tuesday, before Grade One Magistrate Alex Niyonzima, Katabazi pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prosecution, however, requested additional time to verify the documents submitted by his sureties. Consequently, the court remanded him to Luzira Prison until June 13, 2025, when his bail application will be revisited.
Mr Katabazi, a resident of Rushebeya Trading Centre in Rukiga District, is jointly charged with five co-accused individuals.
These include:
- David Balondemu, also a lawyer and Chairman of the Kampala District Land Board.
- Joseph Ibona, an accountant at Bloom Advocates.
- Ronald Kaweesa Tumusiime Kizito alias Denis, a carpenter from Kawempe.
- Martin Kasenge alias Dr. Alfred Musinguzi, a businessman from Kira Division in Wakiso District.
- Eric Geoffrey Mkwe, also a lawyer.
According to the prosecution, between November 2022 and April 2023, the accused, along with others yet to be apprehended, allegedly defrauded Talib Antonio McDowell, a representative of the American company KG Unlimited LLC.
The suspects are accused of falsely claiming they could secure a non-existent contract from Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries for the supply of agricultural drone sprayers and fertilizers.
Prosecutors further allege that the accused forged a letter addressed to KG Unlimited LLC, falsely purporting it to be from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), to lend credibility to their deceptive scheme.
Mr Katabazi’s arrest followed an operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, led by Brigadier Henry Isoke. He had been in police custody since last week before being brought to court on Tuesday.
While the other accused persons in this case had previously been charged and granted bail, their trial has not yet commenced as investigations continue and authorities work to apprehend additional suspects who remain at large.
