In a recent development, Peace Kesiime Bagorogoza and city lawyer Agaba Maguru have failed to appear before the Police Land Protection Unit in Kizungu, Makindye Division, as directed in a police summons. The summons was issued as part of an investigation into the fraudulent transfer and leasing of a 296.74-hectare estate on Kome Island in Mukono District, belonging to the late businessman, Dr James Musinguzi Garuga. The suspects, including Bagorogoza, Maguru, Mugabe R. Rurenga, Nathan Rwankiiko, and Mani Stephen, were required to report to the Land Police Protection Unit at Makindye on October 30, 2026.
The police summons, signed by CP James Kusemererwa, indicated that police detectives were investigating a complaint lodged by Musinguzi Carl Alwyn Garuga, who reported that his late father’s land was fraudulently transferred into the names of Mani Stephen without the late Garuga’s consent. According to the complaint, Mani Stephen leased the land to Erunger Property Limited for 99 years on December 17, 2024, while the land was in his name. The agreement, prepared by Agaba Maguru’s law firm, describes the property as approximately 296.74 hectares under Block 516, Plot 12, at Busanga, Kome Island, Kyaggwe.
Instead of appearing before the police, Peace Kesiime Bagorogoza sent her UPC stalwart and staunch supporter, lawyer Peter Mukidi Walubiri, to represent her. Walubiri told detectives that his client was unable to face police for grilling due to fear and that she had not gathered the strength for the gruelling questioning by the cops. Walubiri requested that Bagorogoza be allowed to come to the police station in person on November 16, when she would have had enough courage to face the detectives.
The case involves a disputed dealings with the land, which was estimated to be worth Shs40 billion. Alwyn Garuga, the son of the late Dr Garuga, claims that there is no evidence that Erunger paid Mani Stephen $3.5m, and there were no transfer forms from Garuga to Mani. He also notes that Mani was too poor to buy the said land from James Garuga, as he is a local employee at a local company, earning about Shs3 million per month.
Further investigation revealed that Agaba Maguru, on the instructions of his boss, wrote to the LC1 chairman of Busanga Village, Kome Island, confirming that the land indeed belonged to Dr Garuga. Maguru also introduced one Amon Akatuhurira and Kayoole, who Garuga had gone with to open the boundaries of his land. Alwyn Garuga now wants to know how Mani Stephen, who was not even close to the late businessman, came to lease his father’s land to British nationals for 99 years.
Records relating to the disputed land reveal a lease agreement between Mani Stephen, identified as the lessor, and Erunger Property Limited, a company whose address is given as 40 Don Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4TR. The stated premium is US$3,298,365, equivalent to more than US$3.2 million, while the annual ground rent is listed at just US$135. However, Alwyn maintains that there is no evidence that the said money was paid by Erunger Property Company to Mani Stephen and his group.
Bagorogoza and Maguru are also wanted by police for other cases involving land fraud. Bagorogoza is accused of fraudulently transferring over 5 square miles of late Garuga’s land in Kanungu into her personal names after her husband’s suspicious death. Maguru is also wanted by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, where criminal summons were issued against him over the fraudulent sale of another 2,000 acres of land belonging to Incafex Ltd, where the late Dr Garuga was Managing Director.
Key points
- - The suspects, including Bagorogoza and Maguru, failed to appear for police questioning. - The land was fraudulently transferred and leased to Erunger Property Limited for 99 years. - The case involves a disputed dealings with the land, which was estimated to be worth Shs40 billion.
