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Hassan Ssegujja, who was charged alongside Balondemu with forgery and conspiracy to commit a felony, entered a plea bargain with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
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By Our Reporter
Kampala | Buganda Road Court —
In the ongoing fraud case against prominent city lawyer and Kampala City Land Board Chairperson David Balondemu, one of his co-accused has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him. This morning, Hassan Ssegujja, who was charged alongside Balondemu with forgery and conspiracy to commit a felony, entered a plea bargain with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.
Ssegujja pleaded guilty to all three counts and was accordingly convicted. Each count carries a penalty of either a fine of UGX 1.5 million or a custodial sentence of two years in prison. Under the agreement, Ssegujja opted to pay the fines and, in return, committed to testifying as a prosecution witness in the case against Balondemu.
During court proceedings, Ssegujja admitted to helping Balondemu fraudulently forge medical documents intended to support a bail application for Balondemu, who is facing serious charges of obtaining over UGX 2.2 billion by false pretenses and conspiring to defraud an American company.
In a revealing statement, Ssegujja disclosed how he too fell victim to Balondemu’s alleged fraudulent schemes. He told the court that Balondemu defrauded him of UGX 10 million, claiming it was to “protect” him from arrest and prosecution by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) and the ODPP.
“Balondemu promised me that he would ensure I am never arrested or prosecuted,” Ssegujja testified. “He said he would use his connections in SH-ACU and ODPP to shield me. I later realized these were just lies.”
The development casts fresh light on Balondemu’s alleged modus operandi. The embattled lawyer has previously accused investigators and prosecutors of corruption, but Ssegujja’s confession suggests it was Balondemu who exploited these allegations to manipulate his associates and victims.
Prosecution sources say Ssegujja’s testimony will be key in strengthening the case against Balondemu as the trial proceeds.
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court is expected to resume hearing the main case against Balondemu in the coming weeks.
