Trial of father and son over sh1.2bn fraud resumes Monday

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KAMPALA - The trial of a father and his son in a case where they are accused of defrauding city businessman Dauda Ssuna of shillings 1.2 billion, resumes on Monday, April 29, 2024.

It is alleged that Abdul Ssalongo Lubowa, also known as Ibrahim Mukiibi, and his son Ronald Kavuma Kato defrauded Ssuna.

The other accused involved in the case are Allan Nziine, Jonathan Tindyebwa, Martin Sabiiti, and Harriet Nabbumba.

The head of the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court, Justice Lawrence Gidudu, will preside over the trial.

The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Safina Baleke at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), alleges that Lubowa allegedly obtained the money, claiming to have been compensated by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) for his land affected by the road project and that the money had been frozen in DFCU Bank.

The prosecution alleged that while obtaining the money, Lubowa and other accused claimed that part of the money he obtained from Ssuna was meant to be paid to some top government officials in order to unfreeze the account.

Prosecution’s case

The accused face charges, of obtaining money by false pretence, cheating, conspiracy to defraud, and money laundering.

Regarding the charge of obtaining money by false pretence, it is alleged that between April and July 2018 in Kampala, Tindyebwa, Lubowa, Kato, Sabiiti, and others still at large obtained sh1.2bn from Ssuna with the intent to defraud.

The money purportedly aimed to unfreeze a total of shillings 18 billion in dfcu Bank.

In another count of cheating, the prosecution said that between the same period in Kampala, Tindyebwa, Lubowa, Kato, Allan Nziine, and Sabiiti allegedly cheated Ssuna of sh1.2 billion.

It is further alleged that Lubowa, Kato, Tindyebwa, Sabiiti, and others during that period conspired to defraud Ssuna.

According to the charges of money laundering, it is alleged that Lubowa, Tindyebwa, and Sabiiti possessed shillings 1.2 billion, yet they knew it was the proceeds of a crime.

In addition, Lubowa purportedly used part of the money to construct a house for Aisha Najjemba in Kiwawu Namungo, Mityana district, and acquired vehicles—a Toyota Hiace and a Toyota Raum.

The prosecution claims that Lubowa, Nziine, Kato, and Sabiiti administered the sh1.2bn at various places within Kampala, fully aware that the money was the proceeds of crime.

Regarding the specific actions of Kato, it is alleged that he administered shillings 173 million in his name at Diamond Trust Bank's Ndeeba branch and used shillings 90 million to purchase land in Mutundwe, in Kampala.

Furthermore, Kato purportedly acquired a Toyota Alphard using part of the sh1.2bn allegedly obtained from Ssuna.

Sabiiti and Harriet Nabbumba are accused of using part of the shillings 1.2 billion allegedly obtained from Ssuna to develop land at blocks 272, 68, and 239, in Sekiwunga Sisa, Kkona, and Wakiso districts.

Also, the prosecution said Nabbumba allegedly misrepresented ownership of the property, which actually belongs to her husband, Sabiiti, knowing that it was fraudulently acquired.

The accused denied the charges.