Magistrate withdraws from land broker Kamoga fraud case

_________________

Entebbe Court chief magistrate Maris Amabilis has withdrawn from handling the fraud case against embattled land broker Muhamadi Kamoga.

Amabilis withdrew from the case after Kamoga of the defunct Kamoga Properties Ltd alleged that the magistrate discussed about the matter with him through WhatsApp.

The drama in court started when the prosecution said they were ready to proceed with the case. However, defence lawyer Brian Tindyebwa said his client had discussed the matter with the magistrate through WhatsApp.

The allegations forced Amabilis to invite the prosecution and defence teams into her chambers for a discussion. However, after the closed-door meeting, Amabilis recused herself from the case and forwarded the case file to another magistrate.

“I have no interest in this matter, but other than destroying my name and integrity, the accused has also previously made a complaint against me at the Judicial Service Commission. I therefore hereby withdraw from handling the case,” the chief magistrate said before the case file was sent to the Entebbe senior Grade One magistrate, Edgar Tusiime Tibayeita.

Tibayeita has now scheduled July 16, 2025, to proceed with the hearing of the case.

Kamoga is battling charges of forgery, obtaining registration by false pretences, uttering false documents, unlawful eviction and malicious damage to property regarding fraudulent acquisition of a 200-acre land at Garuga-Bukaaya belonging to businessman Peter Bibangamba in Entebbe, Wakiso district.

Supreme Court decision

The development comes a day after the Supreme Court dismissed an application in which Kamoga sought to block the lower court proceedings against him.

“I am unable to discern any travesty of justice that an interim order of stay would seek to deflect. It seems to me that the end of justice is better served in this case by the expeditious prosecution of the criminal case,” Justice Monica Mugenyi said.

In her ruling, the judge stated that the High Court had previously overstepped its powers in 2023 when it stayed the proceedings of the case and noted that the decision was unfair to both parties.

The judge dismissed Kamoga’s application and ordered that the case be heard in the lower court to help facilitate the handling of related civil matters already before the court.