Man, 32, jailed over land fraud

JUSTICE

KAMPALA - A 32-year-old man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for swindling a woman out of sh62m, alleging he would sell her land.

Swaib Ssentamu was found guilty of eight counts of forgery, uttering a false document, obtaining money by false pretense and personation.

All the eight counts contravened sections 305, 324, 351 and 381 (1) of the Penal Code Act.

On Friday, the Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate Marion Mangeni sentenced Ssentamu to serve prison time and ordered him to reimburse sh62m he defrauded Rehema Nakagiri of.

On reading the sentence, the magistrate said the two-and-a-half-year custodial sentence was necessary since the actions of the convict had left the complainant traumatised and in nightmares.

She also considered the fact that the convict was remorseful, a first-time offender and did not waste court time.

Rehema Nakagiri broke down in court. (Credit: Douglas Mubiru)

"I sentence the convict to 30 months for count III, 20 for count I, II, V, VI, VII, VIII and 10 for count IV. The sentences run concurrently and you are ordered to refund the sh62m you defrauded from Nakagiri, the complainant," Mangeni ruled.

Nakagiri broke down telling court that the only hope she had to own a house ruined after the convict fraudulently took all her sh62m.

The charge

Prosecution alleges that the convict and others still at large on October 25, 2018 at Stanbic Bank crested towers branch in Kampala district, with intent to obtained sh62m from Nakagiri, purporting to sell her land on block 194 plot 2676 situated at Kungu in Wakiso district, whereas not.

The convict, with intent to defraud, also forged a certificate of title deed for the same piece of land situated at the same place, all intending to cheat Nakagiri.

It is contended that the convict knowingly and fraudulently uttered a false document to wit a certificate of title deed to Nakagiri purporting to be the registered proprietor, whereas not.

The accused also falsely presented himself to be Martin Barungi and presented a national identity card number 017068000 with NIN - CM 8005310424VL in the names of Said Martin in order to obtain money from Nakagiri, whereas not.