Drama erupted in Kampala’s Buganda Road Court as David Balondemu, chairperson of the Kampala District Land Board, was formally summoned this week over allegations that he conspired to present forged medical documents to evade remand. The summons followed his repeated absence from hearings in an ongoing forgery case.
The case pivots on testimony from Dr Hassan Ssegujja, a former Mulago orthopedic officer who admitted forging two medical documents a prescription dated November 7, 2023, and a CT scan referral dated June 12, 2023 supposedly from Kampala Hospital. Ssegujja confessed that Balondemu tasked him with the fabrication via WhatsApp while detained at Wandegeya Police Station, intending the false paperwork to secure bail in an unrelated fraud prosecution.
In exchange, Ssegujja was fined Shs 4 million or faces two years behind bars. Under a plea deal, he also agreed to testify as a state witness against Balondemu.His testimony exposed unsettling details including how Balondemu allegedly wired Shs 1.7 million to him to stay hidden from investigations by the State House Anti‑Corruption Unit. Screenshots and messages from his phone helped the prosecution build the case.
Behind the courtroom spectacle lies a broader legal cloud enveloping Balondemu. He has faced separate fraud and defrauding allegations involving sums exceeding Shs 2 billion connected to gold deals and government contracts. While earlier charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, the current forgery case keeps returning to court amid delays and defence maneuvering.
The court has already warned defence lawyers against further adjournments, making clear the trial would proceed with or without legal representation. The latest hearing is set for September 3, 2025, where Balondemu must appear unless extraordinary allowances are made.
As the drama unfolds, the revelations challenge public trust and spotlight corruption risks at high levels of governance. Balondemu’s next court date could mark a turning point or another twist in a trial mired in delay and high stakes.