Lawyers, Ethiopian remanded over forgery

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Three people, including lawyers and an Ethiopian national, have been remanded to Luzira Prison on accusations of forging lease agreements.

Those remanded include Ethiopian nationals Melkamu Tigist Ayelew and lawyers Bob Mwanjuzi, 41, and Lawrence Kalamu, 29, while Melkamu Sisay Bekure, the other Ethiopian, didn't turn up in the court to answer charges. The court has issued criminal summons against him.

According to the charge sheet, Mwanjuzi is a resident of Gangu, Makindye Ssabagabo, in Kampala, while Kalamu resides in Namasuba within Makindye municipality in Kampala. The Ethiopian nationals reside in Kisasi-Bukoto, Nakawa Division, Kampala district.

On Wednesday, Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate, Ronald Kayizzi, remanded the accused persons to Luzira Prison until August 19, 2025, when they will return to the court for the hearing of their bail applications.

The accused are battling charges of forgery, uttering a false document, conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining money by false pretences and engaging in private business without a valid permit. The accused denied the charges.

Chief State Attorney Joan Keko and Jonathan Muwaganya informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

Allegations

The prosecution alleges that Bekure, Mwanjuzi and Kalamu on April 20, 2023, at an unknown place, with intent to defraud or deceive, made a false statement (a lease agreement), purporting it to have been executed between Sema Holding Limited and Ephrata Investments Group Ltd, whereas not.

Bekure is accused of uttering a forged lease agreement between the two companies dated April 20, 2023, to Abe Kalpana.

Prosecution further purports that the two Ethiopian nationals and lawyer Mwanjuzi between January 24, 2023 and August 14, 2023, within Kampala, with intent to defraud, obtained money worth shillings 917 million from Kalpana by falsely pretending that the same was for investment in Ephrata investment Group Ltd aganist a 10-year lease agreement secured from Sema.

Ayalew is also accused of engaging in private business in Uganda without a valid permit. He is the director of Ephrata company, Hideout Lounge and Bar and Circuit Lounge and Restaurant Company Ltd.