By Our Reporter
Troubled lawyer David Balondemu has been re-arrested to face 8 new charges related to fraud, money laundering, and forgery.
According to reports, Balondemu who is the head of the Kampala District Land Board has been arrested at Entebbe International Airport upon his return from Dubai where he has been hiding for some time now ever since he secured bail after claiming that his health was deteriorating in jail.
Upon his arrest, authorities confirmed that he is being held at the Central Police Station in Kampala, awaiting his appearance in court on Tuesday.
“He is at CPS and is likely to appear in Court tomorrow Tuesday. As we process charges for other bigger cases,” a source at State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) reportedly said.
Balondemu and his law firm, M/s Balon Advocates and Bloom Advocates are facing criminal investigations for defrauding six international companies over Shs 41bn.
Key among the investigations involving Balondemu through his law firms M/s Balon Advocates and Bloom Advocates include; Defrauding a Turkish Company, Guner Kuzu Construction Limited of USD 3,806,885 (about UGX 14BN), in a purported procurement for construction of hospitals in Uganda.
Balondemu’s alleged criminality was first exposed by SHACU on October 20, 2023, when he and others were charged in court for obtaining money by false pretence (Shs 2.2BN) from a Korean investor in a purported gold transaction.
On November 20, 2023, Balondemu was charged on another case related to defrauding of approximately Shs 2.2BN from an American Company, KG Unlimited LLC, in a purported procurement of a “water plant by Ministry of Agriculture”
SHACU Listed Other Fraud Cases Balondemu & His Law Firm Are Allegedly Involved In;
1. Defrauding of Air Options Pty Ltd, a South African Company of USD 1.7M (about UGX 6.3BN), in a purported procurement for supply, installation and maintenance of air conditioners by the Ministry of Local Government.
2. Defrauding of Tecmo Automation Pty Ltd, a South African Company of USD 410,520 (about UGX 1.5BN), in a purported procurement for supply of fuel and lubricants at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
3. Defrauding of Marce’ Firefighting Technology Pty, a South African Company of USD 60,000 (about UGX 225M).
4. Fraudulent conversion of property comprised in Plot 20 Prince Charles Drive using a forged Minute No. KDLB.53/6.4/2022.
5. Fraudulent allocation of non-existent land purportedly comprised in LRV 4645 Folio 13, Plot 1-5, Kyambogo Link to a Kenyan
Company, Babubhai Construction Limited. On 12th October, 2023, an invoice of UGX 450,000,000 by M/s Bloom Advocates, signed by Balondemu, was issued to the company. The allocation was issued by Kampala District Land Board, which he chairs. All these are according to SHACU!
Meanwhile, Balondemu for long has been claiming that he has never personally received the said moneys and that the prosecution has never brought any evidence on the same.
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