Kampala Land Board Chair Remanded Over Forgery Charges

David Balondemu, the chairman of the Kampala District Land Board (KDLB), was remanded to Luzira Prison after being charged with forgery and conspiracy to commit a felony. The charges, brought against him on October 15, 2024, at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates’ Court, stem from allegations that he forged medical documents as part of an earlier bail application.

According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), which worked with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to bring Balondemu to court, the accused previously faced charges related to defrauding an American company, KG Unlimited LLC, of UGX 2.2 billion. The alleged fraud involved the procurement of a water plant for Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, a deal that was purportedly handled by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA). The money, according to the prosecution, was funneled through an account belonging to a law firm linked to Balondemu.

Balondemu’s recent arrest occurred on October 11, 2024, when detectives from SHACU and CID apprehended him at Entebbe International Airport as he returned from Dubai. This arrest followed accusations that he had submitted falsified medical records during a bail application in November 2023.

The fraudulent medical documents reportedly indicated that Balondemu needed surgery at Kampala Hospital. However, the Chief Executive Officer of Kampala Hospital, Dr. Peter Kibuuka, clarified in a letter submitted to the court that Balondemu had never been a patient at the hospital. The letter also stated that there was no record of the surgery mentioned in the documents provided by the accused.

The medical forgery allegations prompted Senior State Attorney Ivan Kyaze to request the court to halt any decisions on Balondemu’s bail. Buganda Road Court Magistrate Winnie Nankya subsequently ordered that Balondemu be remanded to Luzira Prison until the court could properly examine the state’s objections regarding the authenticity of the medical records.

Balondemu is no stranger to legal troubles. In November 2023, he was arrested on charges of defrauding UGX 2.2 billion from KG Unlimited LLC. This alleged scam involved the fraudulent procurement of agricultural equipment such as drone sprayers and fertilizers for the Ministry of Agriculture. Balondemu is accused of conspiring to convince the American company that the Ministry had awarded them the contract, while in reality, no such contract existed.

In this ongoing case, Balondemu now faces not only charges related to fraud but also additional accusations of forging documents to manipulate the judicial process. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 22, 2024.

Table: Overview of Charges Against David Balondemu