Kampala District Land Board Chairperson, David Balondemu, has been remanded to Luzira Prison on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy to defraud. This comes after he, along with accountant Joseph Ibona from Bloom Advocates, appeared before Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko.
According to the prosecution, Balondemu and his accomplices allegedly obtained $553,000 from KG Unlimited LLC between November 2022 and April 2023. They claimed they would secure a contract from the Ministry of Agriculture for supplying agricultural drone sprayers and fertilizers, but this was false.
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 involve allegations of defrauding over $553,000 from KG Unlimited LLC under the guise of facilitating a water plant supply bid.
Prosecutors also 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.
Balondemu faces separate forgery charges related to medical documents, which he allegedly used to secure bail in the fraud case before the initial dismissal of charges. The court is currently investigating the authenticity of these medical records.
This is not the first time Balondemu has faced legal troubles. In October 2023, he 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 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.
