Buganda Road Court has remanded prominent lawyer Drake Twebaze to Luzira Prison until June 13, 2025, on fraud-related charges.
Twebaze was arraigned on multiple serious counts, including obtaining money by false pretenses, conspiracy to defraud, and forgery.
His arrest and prosecution followed a coordinated effort involving the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).
According to court documents, between September and December 2022 in Kampala, Twebaze and unnamed co-conspirators allegedly defrauded $553,500 (approximately Shs2.1 billion) from Talib Antonio McDowell, a representative of KG Unlimited LLC, a Florida-based company.
Prosecution alleges that the accused misrepresented the purpose of the funds, claiming they were required as a “statutory compliance fee” for KG Unlimited to be pre-qualified for a lucrative, single-source government tender to supply a water treatment plant to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Investigations later revealed that no such procurement process existed.
To bolster the scheme, Twebaze and his alleged associates are accused of forging a letter purportedly issued by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), misleading KG Unlimited LLC into believing the deal was sanctioned through official procurement channels.
Appearing calm but reserved in the dock, Twebaze did not take plea, as the charges require committal to the High Court.
Grade One Magistrate Alex Niyonzima ordered that he be remanded to Luzira Prison pending further investigations and his next appearance.
