A 28-year-old Ugandan man living in Lamtara 1, Jumeirah, Dubai, has been remanded to Luzira Prison over accusations of defrauding a senior Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer of more than $61,900 (about Shs 200 million) in a property investment deal gone wrong.
Christopher Oscar Kato was arraigned before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where he was formally charged with one count of cheating by Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi.
Prosecution alleges that Kato obtained the money from Col Fred Zakye, a defence attaché stationed in Ethiopia, under the promise of purchasing two rental properties—specifically units 204 and 205 in Lamtara 1, Dubai—on Zakye’s behalf. Kato is also said to have committed to managing the properties and transferring rental earnings regularly.
The funds were reportedly sent to Kato’s Emirates Bank account. Although the properties were allegedly purchased, the anticipated rental income was not transparently accounted for.
Court documents indicate that Zakye received only $32,000 from the investment in two partial payments—$20,000 in March 2023 and $12,000 in July 2023. After these transactions, further attempts to contact Kato were unsuccessful, leading Zakye to file a complaint with the police on August 16, 2024.
Kato has denied the allegations. His lawyer, Soriea Jessa, informed the court of an intention to seek bail. However, the necessary documentation had not yet been uploaded to the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECMIS), which is now required for all bail applications.
As a result, the magistrate ordered Kato’s remand until June 4, 2025, advising the defense to submit the proper paperwork and provide more credible sureties. He also noted that special attention is given to bail applications from individuals residing abroad. The prosecution, represented by Senior State Attorney Kyazze, requested more time for ongoing investigations.
