Senior counsel Katongole’s forgery case deferred to March 11
Magistrate Alex Baguma deferred the case, extending Katongole’s bail, which the prosecution had sought to cancel on grounds that he had five times skipped court proceedings.
Arthur Johnson Katongole (C) with his lawyers in court during the hearing of his forgery case.
The Mbarara Magistrates’ Court in Mbarara district will, on March 11, 2026, hear evidence of the last prosecution witness in a case where senior advocate Arthur Johnson Katongole is accused of forgery.
Katongole, 84, is battling two counts of intermeddling with the estate of the deceased person contrary to Section 11 of the Administrator General’s Act, Cap 157 and forgery, contravening Sections 319 and 324 of the Penal Code Act.
Magistrate Alex Baguma deferred the case, extending Katongole’s bail, which the prosecution had sought to cancel on grounds that he had five times skipped court proceedings.
“Your worship, the accused before you skipped court five times without attending scheduled proceedings whenever he was summoned. We, therefore, request that the same be cancelled,” the state prosecutor, Rebecca Akulia, from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) informed court.
However, the defence, led by Obed Ahebwa, pleaded to court to instead extend his client’s bail, asserting that he was aged, diabetic, with ailments like prostate enlargement, only suitable to be managed by his medics outside prison.
In his ruling, Magistrate Baguma extended the accused’s bail, ordering him to attend court whenever needed or else his bail would be cancelled.
“In the result, the accused’s bail shall be extended, but cautioned not to skip this court hearings again without any lawful justification, otherwise, bail will be cancelled. It is further not the role of court to remind the accused nor the state to always reappear in court, but he and the sureties should follow up and know which dates court has given, and also not prolong trial,” ruled Baguma.
He added, “I, therefore, adjourn this matter to March 11, 2026, for the last sixth prosecution witness.”
Prosecution alleges that the accused, in 1998 at Mbaguta cell in Mbarara city, without being duly authorised by law or by the letters of Administration General or by an agent, took possession or disposed off land situated at Mbaguta cell, Mbarara city, being the property of Elieza Karuma.