Drama as ‘cousin’ presented as surety fails to name suspect’s mother
James Kumwesiga, 53, in the dock at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of forgery and personation. Photo/ Juliet Kigongo.
What you need to know:
- The court proceedings became more dramatic when the purported cousin was asked to write the name of the suspect’s mother, but failed, saying he did not know it and had only been told they were cousins.
There was drama in court when a man claiming to be a cousin of a suspect in a Shs13 billion land fraud case failed to provide the name of the suspect’s mother as he tried to stand surety for him.
James Kumwesiga, also known as Atuhumuza Simba Polycarp, a self-employed resident of Kungu in Kira Division, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District is accused of forgery and personation with intent to steal land.
Appearing before the Buganda Road Court presided over by the Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi,
Kumwesiga, 53, denied two charges of forgery and one count of personation brought against him by the state, prompting the magistrate to inquire whether he had any sureties.
Through his lawyer, Kumwesiga presented two sureties, one identifying as his wife and the other as a cousin from his maternal side.
However, the magistrate subjected both to a test to verify their relationship with the suspect, emphasising the importance of diligence in a case involving such large sums of money.
When asked to state their wedding anniversary, the 37-year-old woman, admitted that they were not legally married but have four children together.
The court proceedings became more dramatic when the purported cousin was asked to write the name of the suspect’s mother, but failed, saying he did not know it and had only been told they were cousins.
This angered the magistrate, who then allowed him to at least write the name of their shared home village, an attempt that also failed.
“This man is facing a charge involving Shs13 billion. If he absconds, we must know where he comes from. This is not a joke. You cannot claim to be cousins from the maternal side and not know his mother’s name or your common village,” the magistrate said, before adjourning the case to May 26 for a fresh hearing of the bail application with new sureties.
According to the prosecution led by Mr Ivan Kyazze, Kumwesiga, in 2024 within Kampala District or its environs, with intent to defraud or deceive, allegedly created a false National Identity Card NIN: CMS706210EGJ9G, Card Number: 022648729, expiry 30.08.2024 purporting it was issued to him by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), which was not the case.
It is further alleged that Kumwesiga, along with others still at large, forged a document titled Bank Account for Payment of Compensation for Land, regarding land at Block 19 Plot 49 Kiyunga, Sheema District. The letter, dated November 6, 2024, was addressed to the Secretary of the Uganda Land Commission and was purportedly signed by Atuhumuza Simba Polycarp, a person whom Kumwesiga is accused of impersonating.
The prosecution further contends that Kumwesiga, with intent to defraud Atuhumuza of over Shs13 billion, falsely represented himself as Atuhumuza before the Uganda Land Commission.
