Three men have been charged with impersonation after they allegedly posed as State House employees to defraud Annet Namusisi.

The suspects, businessman Moses Musamba Soikya, self-employed James Tumushabe and Silas Serwanga Serwani reside in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts, respectively.

On Monday, the trio appeared before City Hall Court senior magistrate grade one Edgar Karakire but denied the charges.

They are battling charges of impersonation, contrary to Section 381 (1) of the Penal Code Act. The offence elicits a seven-year jail term on conviction.

The accused persons were represented by counsel Deus Byamugisha Barusya, who asked the court to release his clients on bail, arguing that the offence levelled against them is bailable.

Subsequently, the magistrate released each of the accused persons on a non-cash bail of shillings five million after finding their sureties substantial.

“I have noted that all sureties presented by the accused are substantial considering the seriousness of the offence, but also noted that two of the accused are in advanced age,” he said

He bonded all the accused's sureties’ shillings three million (non-cash) each.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that the accused persons and others still at large between June 13 and 23, 2023, at Embassy House in Kampala falsely represented themselves as employees of State House to defraud Namusisi.

Arrest

The trio was arrested by Police on June 23, 2023, while holding a meeting with a family which had been conflicting over land.

State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) preliminary investigations reveal that the accused persons and Maj. (Rtd) Jimmy Katende, who is on the run, have for long been representing themselves as employees of State House trying to resolve land conflicts with vested interests.

According to SHACU, the accused persons allegedly used letters, headed Office of the President and were once warned by the Head Land Department to desist from the act, in vain.