The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has remanded Kampala District Land Board Chairperson, Lawyer David Balondemu, to Luzira Prison on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy to defraud. Alongside him, accountant Joseph Ibona from Bloom Advocates was also arraigned before Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko.
The prosecution alleges that between November 2022 and April 2023, at Bloom Advocates, the accused, with others still at large, obtained $553,000 (approximately UGX 2.08 billion) from KG Unlimited LLC. They falsely claimed they would secure a contract from the Ministry of Agriculture for supplying agricultural drone sprayers and fertilizers.
In a related case, the Director of Public Prosecutions has reinstated 18 charges of electronic fraud and obtaining money by pretense against Balondemu. These charges, previously dismissed for lack of prosecution, involve allegations of defrauding over $553,000 from KG Unlimited LLC under the guise of facilitating a water plant supply bid.
Additionally, prosecutors accuse the group of forgery and uttering false documents, including fabricated resolutions purportedly made at Bloom Advocates. Some of these documents were allegedly directed to registrars at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau.
Compounding his legal troubles, Balondemu faces separate forgery charges related to medical documents. He allegedly used these falsified documents to secure bail in the fraud case before the initial dismissal of charges. The court is currently investigating the authenticity of these medical records.
Previously, in October 2023, Balondemu was remanded on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy to commit a felony. He, along with others, allegedly defrauded a Korean investor of $600,000 (approximately UGX 2.2 billion) in a bogus gold deal.
Despite these allegations, some charges against Balondemu have been dismissed. Earlier this year, the City Hall Magistrates Court dropped charges related to defrauding a Korean investor in a fraudulent gold deal, citing a lack of evidence.
The reinstatement of charges and ongoing investigations indicate a complex legal battle ahead for Balondemu and his co-accused. The court has issued criminal summonses for the remaining suspects, requiring their appearance in court.
As the legal proceedings continue, the accused remain in custody, awaiting further court appearances. The outcomes of these cases will be closely monitored, given their implications for legal and business communities.