A shocking complaint is set to be lodged with legal authorities, particularly the Uganda Law Society (ULS), against two prominent lawyers Ocitti Samuel and Swabur Marzuq Abdul both suspected to be affiliated with the reputable law firm Lwere, Lwanyaga & Co. Advocates. The lawyers face allegations of professional misconduct, fraud, and breach of client trust in a multimillion-shilling property scandal involving a Ugandan-American businesswoman.
Ms. Immaculate K. Mutumba, a Ugandan citizen currently residing in Indianapolis, USA, has formally accused the advocates of orchestrating a calculated scheme to defraud her of several high-value properties located across Kampala and Wakiso District, which she had entrusted them to manage while she was abroad.
According to a detailed complaint filed through her legal representatives, the scandal began in 2018 when Ms. Mutumba, unable to personally oversee her Ugandan properties, retained the legal services of Mr. Ronald Ampulira and subsequently Mr. Ocitti Samuel. The advocates allegedly convinced her to transfer her assets into a newly incorporated company, Organic Empire (U) Limited, to purportedly shield them from a fictitious law requiring Ugandan national identity cards for land ownership.
Ms. Mutumba claims she funded the company’s registration, expecting to maintain control, only to later discover that her lawyers had fraudulently awarded themselves shares in the company. Despite assurances that the business entity was created solely to protect her property, the lawyers allegedly transferred her land titles to the company and have since begun claiming personal ownership of the land.
Documents presented in support of the complaint include incorporation records, court filings, and land sale agreements, which Ms. Mutumba insists were misrepresented and executed without lawful consideration. She further asserts that her former lawyers filed a case in the High Court of Uganda H.C.C.S No. 0627 of 2022 in her name without her knowledge or consent, falsely claiming joint ownership with the company.
One of the most troubling allegations involves a forged “gift” of land to Advocate Ocitti Samuel, and a subsequent alleged sale of part of the disputed land to his colleague, Advocate Swabur Marzuq Abdul, despite no financial transaction with Ms. Mutumba and no legal authority granted to them.
“This is a textbook case of abuse of trust, professional misconduct, and legal manipulation. Ms. Mutumba’s rights and properties have been violated by those entrusted to protect them,” reads part of the complaint.
In her plea for redress, Ms. Mutumba is demanding the unconditional return of her six property titles, the surrender of all fraudulent sale agreements, and a full financial accounting of all monies handled by the accused lawyers. She is also calling for disciplinary action from the Law Council and other relevant authorities.
The case is likely to reignite conversations around accountability in the legal profession, especially regarding the ethical obligations lawyers owe to clients living abroad who depend heavily on local representation.
Officials from Lwere, Lwanyaga & Co. Advocates have not publicly responded to the complaint as of press time.
The Uganda Law Council has been urged to urgently investigate the matter, with legal experts warning that, if the claims are substantiated, it could lead to disbarment and criminal prosecution for the implicated advocates.
