Kampala city lawyer Jimmy Awanga has been remanded to Luzira Prison after appearing before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court on allegations of obtaining Shs 193 million by false pretences in a disputed land transaction.
Awanga, 49, appeared before chief magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa on Wednesday and denied the charges during plea taking.
According to the charge sheet, Awanga, a resident of Najjera II in Kira Municipality, allegedly obtained the money from Ronald Mutebi by falsely claiming he was selling land comprised in Kyadondo Block 82 Plot 3650 measuring 1.820 hectares at Kiryamuli.
Prosecution states that the alleged offence was committed on February 20, 2025, at Buganda Road Flats in Kampala with intent to defraud. Court heard that investigations into the matter have since been completed, prompting the state to request a hearing date.
Defence lawyer Samuel Ejoku, however, informed court that he had instructions to apply for bail and that all the necessary documents had already been uploaded onto the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS).
But Magistrate Kidasa said she was unable to access the documents on the court network and could therefore not proceed with the bail application.
“I cannot access your documents on the network. I am also unable to handle the bail application today,” Kidasa ruled.
The magistrate adjourned the matter to June 4, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered the prosecution to disclose evidence to the defence.
Pius Tebandeke attended the proceedings as watching brief counsel for the complainant, Mutebi, who was present in court.
According to brief facts contained in the police file, investigations commenced after Mutebi lodged a complaint under reference KMP GEF 203/2025, accusing Awanga of fraudulently obtaining money from him in a land transaction.
Detectives reportedly established that the disputed land had allegedly been purchased from Stockwell Investments Capital Limited at a total consideration of Shs 600 million under a sales agreement dated February 20, 2024.
Investigators further allege that Awanga presented himself as acting on behalf of the company and instructed the complainant to deposit part of the purchase money – amounting to Shs150 million – into his personal Housing Finance bank account.
Police also claim that an additional Shs 43 million was later paid on June 4, 2025, after the accused allegedly promised to clear encumbrances on the land and hand over vacant possession.
The prosecution contends that Awanga later became unreachable and failed to complete the transaction or refund the money.