A Kampala lawyer has been sent to Luzira Prison after appearing before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on allegations of fraud involving a disputed land sale worth Shs193 million.
The accused, Jimmy Awanga, 49, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on Wednesday and denied charges of obtaining money by false pretences.
Prosecution led by Grace Amy told court that Awanga, a resident of Najjera II in Kira Municipality and a practicing lawyer, allegedly received Shs193 million from businessman Ronald Mutebi after reportedly presenting himself as a seller of land located on Kyadondo Block 82 Plot 3650 in Kiryamuli.
Court documents indicate that the disputed property measures about 1.820 hectares and that the alleged offence was committed on February 20, 2025, at Buganda Road Flats in Kampala with intent to defraud the complainant.
State prosecutors informed court that investigations into the matter had been completed and requested that the case be fixed for hearing.
However, defence lawyer Samuel Ejoku told court that the accused intended to apply for bail and that all supporting documents had already been filed electronically through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).
Chief Magistrate Kidasa said she was unable to retrieve the documents from the court network, making it impossible to proceed with the bail hearing. The magistrate consequently adjourned the matter to June 4, 2026, when the bail application will be heard.
The court also directed the prosecution to disclose all evidence intended for use during trial to the defence team.
Pius Tebandeke attended the proceedings as watching brief counsel for the complainant, Ronald Mutebi, who was present in court during the session.
According to police records, the case arose after Mutebi filed a complaint under reference number KMP GEF 203/2025 accusing the lawyer of fraud linked to a land transaction.
Investigators claim the land in question had allegedly been acquired from Stockwell Investments Capital Limited for Shs600 million under a sales agreement signed in February 2024.
Detectives further allege that Awanga acted as a representative of the company and instructed the complainant to deposit Shs150 million into his personal Housing Finance Bank account as part payment for the property.
Police also allege that an additional Shs43 million was later paid after the accused reportedly promised to clear existing encumbrances on the land and hand over vacant possession to the buyer.
The prosecution contends that after receiving the money, the suspect allegedly became unreachable and neither completed the transaction nor refunded the complainant’s funds.
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