Sema Property Consultants proprietor Sulait Ssemakula, who is accused of destroying the property of Hellena Namazzi, 99, has been released on bail.

Today, Kira Court Chief Magistrate Roseline Nsenge granted Ssemakula a cash bail of sh5m after finding his sureties substantial. Ssemakula was represented by lawyer Robert Mackay.

“The accused is hereby directed to deposit his passport in court,” the magistrate ordered.

The magistrate directed the accused’s sureties who are friends and relatives of the accused — Nasir Nsubuga, Aramathan Mukiibi and Kefas Kayanja — to execute a non-cash bond of sh15 million. 

Resident State Attorney, Ketty Basutta informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.

Charges

Ssemakula is facing three counts of malicious damage to property and a count of conspiracy to commit a felony. The accused person has since denied the charges.

Under section 335 (1) and 2 (a) of the Penal Code Act, the offence of malicious damage to property attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, upon conviction, while conspiracy to commit a felony elicits a seven-year jail term.

According to the charge sheet, Ssemakula, 52, who describes himself as a businessman, is a resident of Kiwatule, Nakawa Division in Kampala.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Ssemakula and others still at large on December 14, 20, and 28, last year, at Bulooli Zone Namugongo in Wakiso district, willfully and unlawfully destroyed trees and a fence of concrete poles, the property of Namazzi.

Background.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in conjunction with the Police, arrested Ssemakula a fortnight ago. His firm, SEMA property Consultants deals in the buying and selling land.

Namazzi and Ssemakula are battling over land measuring four and half acres, located at Buloolo in Namugongo, Kira municipality in Wakiso district.

Court documents indicate that Namazi settled on the land in 1956. She first bought one acre from Erisa Musoke and later bought another three-and-a-half acres.

However, the person who was helping her process a land title died during the liberation war in 1986.

The dispute over the land started in 2000 when Namazzi’s neighbour, Banada Kayondo Kiwanuka, claimed ownership of the land and purportedly sold it to Ssemakula.

Since then, Namazzi and Semakula have been embroiled in court battles over the land. However, Namazzi was surprised when her property was destroyed, pending the determination of the case.

According to Namazzi, the destruction of her property on December 28, 2022, was contrary to lands minister Judith Nabakooba's directive to stop evictions during the festive season.

Police preliminary report also shows that there is no record of transfer of the property at the Wakiso lands office.

The magistrate adjourned the case to February 9, 2023 for mention.