Janet Museveni aide pins Kampala man over forging her boss' signature
Forgery suspect Kenneth Niwamanya in the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court dock on September 4, 2024. PHOTO/JULIET KIGONGO
What you need to know:
- Court heard that upon examining the printed letter, several discrepancies became apparent, contrary to first lady Janet Museveni's style.
The personal secretary to first lady and education minister Janet Museveni has pinned a 24-year-old man for allegedly forging her signature.
While giving her testimony on Wednesday, 40-year-old Lillian Kyobutungi told Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayiizi that she had held the position for seven years.
She was testifying in a case in which UMOJA Youth Development Initiative Uganda executive director Kenneth Niwamanya is accused of forging the minister’s signature.
Court heard that Kyobutungi initially met Niwamanya on October 31, 2023, when he visited their office with a letter addressed to Janet Museveni.
In the letter, Niwamanya requested the minister to forward his book, titled "The Hidden Agenda to NRM," to the President.
"I received the book, which was subsequently forwarded to the President's office. Later, on May 30, 2024, Niwamanya brought a letter requesting the minister's patronage for his organization. Furthermore, on July 5, he submitted two letters to their office: one addressed to the president and the other to the minister, inviting them to officiate at the NRM treachery and youth conference scheduled for October 25 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds," Kyobutungi testified.
The court further heard that Niwamanya returned to the Minister's office on August 5 to follow up on his previous requests and he was instructed to wait for further communication, which would be provided once a response was received.
"Our office received a notification from my colleague, Grace, of UWESO regarding a forged letter. The letter, dated July 24, 2024, was allegedly signed by the minister, requesting support for UMOJA Youth Development Initiative Uganda. The letter was addressed "To Whom It May Concern" and purportedly sought patronage. Upon receiving this information, they decided to wait for Niwamanya at the office," Ms Kyobutungi said.
Kyobutungi explained to court that the forgery suspect returned to her office on August 22 –to follow up on the matter- with a suspicious letter bearing Janet’s signature.
"I questioned Niwamanya about the origin of the signature and he claimed to have used a scanned signature, which I failed to identify. After admitting to the crime, it was now out of my hands and I handed him over to security," Kyobutungi testified.
Court heard that upon examining the printed letter, several discrepancies became apparent.
Firstly, the letter was addressed "To Whom It May Concern," which is not a typical format used by the First Lady.
Additionally, it was discovered that she had not accepted the patronage, and the signature appeared incomplete, lacking certain features present in her authentic signature.
When asked during cross examination by Niwamanya's lawyer if she had evidence that the letter was served electronically or physically to their office, she responded “no.”
Kayizzi adjourned the case to January 3, 2025 for further hearing of prosecution witnesses.
Prosecution led by Mr Ivan Kyazze told court that Niwamanya had long sought to make Janet patron of his organization and to achieve his goal, he allegedly forged "To Whom It May Concern" letters bearing the scanned signature of the first lady, using them to solicit money to organize a function at Kololo Grounds.
Case
According to the charge sheet, Niwamaya on August 22, 2023 at the Ministry of Education and Sports offices at Embassy house in Kampala, with intent to deceive members of the public, forged the said letter on July 24, 2024.
