The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court has convicted Specioza Nassuna, a 43-year-old former credit official of Cairo Bank, for aiding businessman Robert Kisolo in a UGX 200m loan scam.
Nassuna was found guilty of conspiring with Kisolo to forge documents, including powers of attorney and a bank valuation report, to obtain the loan.
The prosecution led by Ms Joan Keko presented 11 witnesses, including handwriting experts and the rightful landowners, to prove the three counts of forgery, obtaining credit by false pretense, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi ruled that the circumstantial evidence pointed to the guilt of both Nassuna and Kisolo.
The court found that Nassuna had smuggled a forged evaluation report into Kisolo’s loan application file, which was used to approve the loan. Although there was no direct evidence linking Kisolo to the forged survey report, the court acknowledged that circumstantial evidence was sufficient for a conviction.
The prosecution alleged that Kisolo and Nassuna forged documents, including powers of attorney and a valuation report, to obtain the loan. The duo allegedly forged a survey report for land comprised in Kyaggwe block 109 plot 22 land at Gwafu, allegedly signed by Muhanguzi Bazirio and Henry Ssembajwe of Uphill land tech services limited.
Ms Keko has requested a 10-year custodial sentence and a compensation order of UGX200 million, citing the increasing trend of bank fraud nationwide, with 12,924 cases reported in 2023.
The case has been adjourned to February 12 for the convict’s lawyers to respond to the state’s submissions and sentencing.
