In a shocking case of deception and fraud, a father, his son, and a guesthouse manager have been found guilty of swindling a city businessman out of a staggering sh1.2 billion under false pretenses.
The Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court, led by Justice Lawrence Gidudu, handed down the guilty verdict yesterday, exposing a meticulously crafted scheme that preyed on greed and trust.
Abdul Ssalongo Lubowa, Ronald Kavuma, and Jonathan Tindyebwa now await sentencing, which is set to be delivered today.
THE GRAND DECEPTION
According to the court’s findings, the trio fraudulently conned businessman Dauda Ssuna, promising him lucrative returns in a bogus government compensation deal.
Lubowa, the mastermind, falsely claimed he had been awarded a hefty sh18 billion compensation from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) for his land.
However, he deceitfully told Ssuna that the money was frozen at dfcu Bank and could only be released by bribing top government officials.
That’s when his son, Kavuma, along with their associate Tindyebwa, stepped in to rope in their victim.
They lured Ssuna into “lending” Lubowa the sh1.2 billion, dangling the promise of massive returns once the UNRA funds were “unblocked.”
MONEY TRAIL REVEALS FRAUD
Justice Gidudu pointed to suspicious activity in Kavuma’s bank account, which had a meager sh60,325 balance since 2013 but suddenly saw sh1.7 billion in transactions around the time of the fraud.
A staggering sh900 million was funneled into land purchases—money that clearly wasn’t coming from any legitimate source.
The court concluded that Kavuma had laundered the stolen money, though the defendants were acquitted of broader money laundering charges, except for one count against Kavuma.
“PURE FRAUD” – JUDGE’S VERDICT
Justice Gidudu minced no words in his ruling.
“The accused made false representations with the clear intent to defraud. They deceived Ssuna into parting with his money, giving him a false hope of a massive profit, which never materialized,” he said.
The court further blamed the fraudsters for exploiting Ssuna’s gullibility, ultimately leaving him financially ruined and out of business since 2018.
TOUGH SENTENCING DEMANDED
Chief State Attorney Salina Bireke pushed for harsh penalties, citing the rising trend of fraudulent schemes across the country.
“My Lord, this scam has devastated the victim. He has lost a significant sum, impacting his business and livelihood. A deterrent sentence is necessary to send a strong message to would-be fraudsters,” she argued.
PLEAS FOR MERCY
However, the convicted fraudsters weren’t ready to accept their fate so easily.
Lubowa, playing the sympathy card, begged for leniency due to his old age, while Kavuma pleaded that he had a family depending on him.
Meanwhile, Tindyebwa’s lawyer made a bold claim, insisting that his client was also a victim of the scam. He argued that Tindyebwa had actually lost sh50 million in a desperate attempt to profit from the fraudulent deal.
“HOW DO I GET MY MONEY BACK?” – DESPERATE VICTIM SPEAKS OUT
A devastated Dauda Ssuna turned to the judge, demanding to know how he would ever recover his stolen millions.
Since falling for the scam in 2018, his business has collapsed, and he has been left in financial ruin.
Despite his grievances, the court found that Kavuma, Tindyebwa, and Lubowa worked together in a coordinated effort to steal sh1.2 billion from him, leaving little hope for restitution.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A CLASSIC FRAUD SCHEME
From a nearly empty bank account to sudden multi-million shilling transactions, the court pieced together an elaborate financial ruse designed to fool a businessman into parting with his fortune.
With sentencing looming, the fate of the father-son fraud team and their accomplice now rests in the hands of the court. Will they face harsh punishment, or will their pleas for leniency soften the blow?
Only time will tell.
