Court extends MP Balikuddembe's arrest warrant

By Angela Nalumansi

BUGANDA Road Court Grade One Magistrate Araali Muhiirwa Kagoro has extended the warrant of arrest against Busiro South constituency Member of Parliament Joseph Balikuddembe for allegedly issuing false cheques to Nibya a money lending company.

This after the legislator failed to appear in court twice to answer charges against him.

Prosecution led by Peter Mugisha alleges that Balikuddembe between November and December 2013 at Nibya office at Serena Conference Centre without reasonable excuse issued a centenary Bank cheque no. 559 for shs 11,850,000 to Nibya drawn on account No. 3010012270 without reasonable ground to believe there were sufficient funds in the said account to pay the amount specified on the cheque within the normal course of banking business.

Magistrate Araali Muhirwa issued an arrest warrant for Balikuddembe’s arrest but it’s been all in vain and has now decided to order police to arrest him and produce him in court to answer the said charges. The legislator is expected to appear before court on 19th April 2014.

Balikuddembe has two files with the same offences but before different magistrates.

On Tuesday, he was supposed to appear before Buganda Road court Grade One magistrate Simon Kintu but he did not turn up which tempted Kintu to issue him criminal summons

In this file Balikuddembe issued over 6 false cheques to one Emmanuel Masesane.

Prosecution led by Nelly Asiku alleges that on 31st July at Kikuubo in Kampala District without reasonable excuse issued cheque No. 00106 of Housing Finance Bank Kikuubo Branch with face value of 110,000,000 to one Masesane Emmanuel to be withdrawn from account Number 0133220200 knowing that there were no sufficient funds on the said account to pay the amount specified on the cheque within the normal course of banking business.

It’s further alleged that on the same date at the same place he issued 5 other different cheques of the above mentioned Bank all valued at 100 millions each totalling to 500 millions to the said Masesane to be withdrawn from the said account number well knowing that there was no money on his account.

Balikuddembe has been summoned to appear before magistrate Kintu on 15st April 2014 to take plea on the charges against him.