Court asked to reject bail for businesswoman in sh240m land case

KAMPALA - The State has asked the Anti-Corruption Court to deny bail to a businesswoman accused of laundering sh240 million linked to a land transaction.

Sauya Kasisa Mutesi, 28, a self-employed resident of Bugu zone, Busaabala, Makindye-Ssabagabo in Wakiso district, is charged with one count of money laundering contrary to Sections 3(c) and 13 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Prosecutors allege that Mutesi was involved in laundering sh240 million arising from a transaction involving a kibanja located on Kabaka’s land in Kirinda zone, Makindye-Ssabagabo.

Under Sections 3 and 13 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, a person convicted of money laundering is liable to a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine not exceeding sh2 billion, or both.

The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Gertrude Nyipir from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), on June 4, 2026, asked court to deny bail, arguing that the accused has failed to present substantial sureties and is likely to abscond if released.

The prosecution submitted that the charges relate to serious economic offences involving a colossal sum of about sh240 million, making the case grave and sensitive in nature.

Nyipir further argued that the sureties presented lacked sufficient financial capacity. She said that in the event Mutesi absconds from trial, there would be no assurance of compliance with bail conditions, increasing the risk of non-compliance.

She also argued that, given the seriousness of the charges, there is a strong likelihood that the accused could abscond if granted bail.

Justice Kajuga is expected to deliver a ruling on the bail application on June 5, 2026.
Mutesi’s lawyer, Richard Barungi, told court that the accused has substantial sureties who would ensure she appears in court whenever required.

Barungi added that he had explained to both Mutesi and her sureties the importance of complying with bail terms, and that they fully understood and pledged to abide by the conditions if bail is granted.

Charges

Nyipir alleges that in April 2026, at Kirinda zone in Makindye-Ssabagabo, Wakiso district, Mutesi assisted her brother-in-law, Noah Tenywa, alias Victor, to benefit from the proceeds of crime.

According to the prosecution, Mutesi facilitated the transaction by allowing herself to be indicated as the purchaser on a kibanja sale agreement, despite allegedly knowing that the money used to acquire the land constituted proceeds of crime.