NATIONAL | Workers’ MP Abdulhu Byakatonda Faces $220,000 Property Fraud Charges
Workers’ Member of Parliament Abdulhu Byakatonda is facing serious criminal charges of fraud and obtaining money by false pretence over a $220,000 property deal linked to the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB).
According to court documents, the legislator, together with unidentified accomplices, allegedly posed as agents or employees of the DAPCB on July 31, 2019, and received large sums of money from businessman Asuman Nkambwe and Nambooze Jane under the guise of facilitating the purchase of expropriated properties in Kampala.
Byakatonda was arrested shortly after his nomination and produced under tight security before Grade One Magistrate Jalia Basajjabalaba at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were formally read out to him.
The prosecution alleges that during his tenure as Chairperson of the Divestiture Committee of the DAPCB, Byakatonda fraudulently obtained $220,000 from Nkambwe, claiming it was a commitment fee for the purchase of prime properties located on Plot 23 Martin Road and Plot 34 Rashid Road in Kampala.
Investigations suggest the MP and his associates falsely represented themselves as having authority to sell or allocate the said properties, which are part of government-managed expropriated assets. The transaction reportedly never materialized, and the complainants lost their money in the process.
During the court appearance, Byakatonda denied all charges, pleading not guilty to both counts. His lawyers applied for bail, arguing that he is a public official with a known place of residence and would not interfere with investigations.
However, prosecutors opposed the application, citing the serious nature of the charges and the need to ensure the accused’s availability during trial. The court remanded Byakatonda to Luzira Prison pending a ruling on his bail application.
The case has drawn public attention due to Byakatonda’s political position and his role in overseeing the management of properties under the DAPCB. The Board, which was established to manage assets left behind by Asians expelled in 1972, has long been marred by allegations of fraudulent transactions and property mismanagement.
Court proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks as investigations into the alleged fraud intensify.
