Balondemu lawyers now state witnesses as bail denied
KAMPALA. The lawyers of embattled Chairperson of the Kampala District Land Board, Balondemu David, has turned into state witnesses as he was denied bail for the second time at Buganda Road Court on Wednesday.
Balondemu’s own legal team, comprising lawyers Kamba Hassan, Robert Bautu, Alaka, Mbidi, and Evans Ochieng, have now become witnesses on the current file. This development means that Balondemu cannot continue to be represented by his current lawyers and will need to seek new legal counsel for his defense moving forward.
The prosecution argued that his sureties were not substantial and that his release could potentially disrupt the ongoing investigation. As a result, Balondemu has been remanded until 24th October 2024, pending further bail applications.
Balondemu is batting a string of alleged forgery and fraud cases. Mr. Balondemu reportedly submitted counterfeit medical documents to the court in an attempt to secure bail, claiming to be awaiting medical procedures at Kampala Hospital. However, these papers were later discovered to be forged, as testified by the hospital’s director, Dr. Peter Kibuuka.
On October 17, 2023, Balondemu and several others were arrested in a coordinated operation involving the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Uganda Police, and other agencies. They were detained on charges related to obtaining money through deceitful means. Some of the cases had been dropped by court but were reinstated.
