Pastor held over attempt to steal late wife’s wealth
Kampala- A pastor has been arrested on accusations of forging property documents of his deceased wife to steal her wealth.
Pastor Samuel Bashan Zziwa, an associate preacher at Full Gospel Church Makerere, is accused of forging letters of administration to take over the properties left behind by his late wife, Agnes Namutebi, who was a lecturer at Makerere University.
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said Mr Zziwa was arrested with three other people who allegedly helped him carry out the forgeries.
“He was arrested by Wandegeya Police Station with Moses Musoke, an employee of SOMMA Associates, Allan Opio, who also is said to be a pastor, and the Local Council chairperson for Bombo Road Zone, Jean Bakamweta. They are held for forging documents to inherit property of Dr Agnes Namutebi,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
About spouse
Namutebi, who died in July last year, was one of the youngest PhD holders at Makerere University’s Department of Food Science and Technology. She was buried at her ancestral home in Gomba District.
Police said the forgery scheme was masterminded with assistance of Mr Musoke but the scam was discovered by the deceased’s family. “The deceased’s family found out that Pastor Zziwa had tendered his request of being granted sole powers of administration over his late wife’s and father-in-law’s property at Makindye Magistrate’s Court,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
He said the documents include forged signatures of the deceased family members, unanimously granting Pastor Zziwa access and authority over his late wife’s physical and financial wealth.
Police further revealed that Mr Zziwa also attempted to steal his late wife’s National Social Security Fund savings using another person who pretended to be a relative of the deceased.
Police said in a bid to steal his wife’s NSSF savings, Mr Zziwa’s lawyer, Mr Musoke, wrote a letter, introducing him to the pension Fund as the rightful beneficiary of the late Namutebi’s properties.
Details of the alleged forgeries and how they were carried out were not readily established. By last evening, the suspects were still in police custody and it was not clear when they will be taken to court for prosecution.
