City lawyer charged over alleged sh193m land fraud

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The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded a city lawyer to Luzira Prison for allegedly obtaining money by false pretences in connection with an alleged fraudulent land transaction worth sh193m.

Jimmy Awanga, 49, on May 20, 2026, appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on charges of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 285 of the Penal Code Act Cap 128.

He, however, denied the charges.

State prosecutor Grace Amy informed the court that investigations into the matter had been completed and asked the court to fix the case for hearing.

The lawyer representing the accused informed the court that he had instructions to apply for bail for his client.

However, the magistrate could not entertain the bail application because the documents had not been uploaded onto the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS), despite the accused’s lawyer informing the court that they had already been uploaded.

This prompted the magistrate to adjourn the case to June 4, 2026, for hearing, and the accused was further remanded until then.

According to the prosecution, Awanga, a resident of Najjera II in Kira Municipality, Nakawa Division, allegedly obtained sh193m from Ronald Mutebi by falsely claiming that he was selling land comprised in Kyadondo Block 82 Plot 3650, measuring 1.820 hectares, located at Kiryamuli.

The prosecution states that the alleged offence was committed on February 20, 2025, at Buganda Road Flats in Kampala district.

The prosecution further indicated that on July 30, 2025, police received a case file under KMP REF 203/2025 in which Ronald Mutebi complained against Awanga for allegedly obtaining sh193m from him by falsely pretending that he was selling land comprised in Kyadondo Block 82 Plot 3650 at Kiryamuli.

Court heard that inquiries revealed that the said land had allegedly been sold at a total consideration of sh600m on February 20, 2024, by Stockwell Investments Capital Ltd through M/s Parkhill Advocates, and that a sale agreement was executed on the same day.

The prosecution further stated that Mutebi initially paid sh150m as part of the transaction. Awanga, who reportedly presented himself as acting on behalf of Stockwell Investments Capital Ltd, allegedly provided his personal Housing Finance Bank Kololo account into which the money was deposited on February 20, 2024.

It is further alleged that Mutebi later made an additional payment of sh43m on June 4, 2024, after Awanga reportedly promised to clear encumbrances on the land and subsequently hand over vacant possession of the property.

However, the prosecution contends that the promises were never fulfilled. Court heard that Awanga allegedly started ignoring Mutebi’s phone calls despite repeatedly assuring him that he was finalising documentation to facilitate the handover of the property.