The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has charged Mr Kevin Kiiza Rwanyarare, a son to veteran politician Dr. James William Rwanyarare with 10 counts including forgery of contracts, uttering false documents and fraudulent procurement of a special certificate of title of his father’s 635 acres estate in Kasanje Town Council, Wakiso District.
Dr. James William Rwanyarare’s property located on Busiro Block 535, formerly Plot 136, at Ntinda and Sazi, has been at the centre of a land wrangle for years which caught national attention last year after Home Connect Properties (HCP) forcibly took over the land and destroyed several residents properties.
On Friday, Kiiza, while appearing before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi was charged with forgery of a Power of Attorney dated 15th April 2020, Forgery and uttering of a false “To Whom It May Concern” CPS police letter dated 12th December 2022, False statutory declarations and fraudulent procurement of a Special Certificate of Title, and Uttering false documents with intent to mislead.
Court heard that Kiiza committed forgery contrary to section 319,322(d)(i) and 325 of the penal code act cap 128 on 15th April 2020 in Kampala district made a false document to wit powers of attorney dated 14/4/2020, purporting the same to have been signed by Dr James Rwanyarare where as not.
Kiiza further went to utter false documents which is contrary to section 328 and 325 of the penal code act cap 128 on 23rd October 2023 at ministry of lands, housing and urban development wakiso-busiro zonal office in Wakiso district, knowingly and fraudulently uttered a false document to wit powers of attorney dated15/4/2020 purporting signed by Dr. Rwanyarare James William where as not.
Kiiza was further charged with forgery of stamps when in 2022 he forged an official stamp of the Officer in Charge Kampala Central police station. Forged documents on 12th December 2022, a “A to whom it may concern letter of Kampala Central Police Station dated 12/12/2022 purporting to have been issued by the police station yet it wasn’t.
Additionally kiiza is charged with uttering false documents on 23/10/2023 with others still at large at the ministry of lands knowingly and fraudulently uttered a false document said to be issued by the police which wasn’t true. Kiiza on 16th October 2023 fraudulently acquired a special certificate of title of land block 535 plot 136 at Busiro purporting that the duplicate title was lost.
He further uttered false special certificate of the land on 23/10/23 at the ministry of lands, falsely swore a false statutory declaration on 16/10/23, uttered a false statutory declaration on 23/10/23 and fraudulently procured a special certificate on title on 12th December 2022.
However, Kiiza a business associate of Strathmore Business School, pleaded not guilty to the charges and is set to reappear before the same court on 19th September for further mention of the case.
Family Speaks Out
According to the head of the estate, Ms Carol kahamutimaa, one of Dr. James William Rwanyarare daughters, the formal charging of Kiiza marks a decisive step in holding him accountable for orchestrating fraudulent schemes intended to deprive their father of his lawful property.
“In parallel, as communicated to the Inspectorate of Government, the family continues to express grave concern over the conduct of the Commissioner of Lands, Mr. Baker Mugaino, whose office irregularly vacated valid caveats, ignored lawful objections, and facilitated the fraudulent issuance of a Special Certificate of Title in favour ofHome Connect Properties (U) Ltd, despite the existence of the original duplicate certificate of title” she said
kahamutima said the actions of Mugaino enabled the fraudulent transfer of Dr. Rwanyarare’s land into the names of Home Connect Properties Ltd with the help of Kiiza.
“The Special Certificate of Title and subsequent transfer are illegal, erroneous, and fraudulent, No third party can acquire good title from these fraudulent transactions and the matter is now active before court, under the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution” she said.
Ms kahamutima further urged all relevant authorities to ensure that the due process of law is followed without interference, “We caution the public and third parties against engaging in any dealings related to the said property by Home Connect Properties Ltd”.
Last year Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba issued a directive stopping all transactions related to politician James Rwanyarare’s 640-acre land in Kasanje, Wakiso District.
This followed a violent confrontation between Home Care Properties (HCP) and local residents who accuse the company of forcibly taking over their land and destroying property.
The dispute led to riots, during which one person was shot, and accusations of police bias were raised.
