Kenneth Niwamanya, a 25-year-old man accused of forging the signature of Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, has been denied bail by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi rejected the bail application, stating that the sureties presented were not suitable due to their advanced age, which conflicts with established bail standards. The magistrate also noted that since the trial was already underway, it would proceed without unnecessary delays.
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Prosecutor Ivan Kyazze introduced an investigating officer as a witness, but defense lawyer Nicholas Ssenkumi objected, claiming the officer had been present in court during testimonies from earlier prosecution witnesses—a potential breach of fair trial procedures.
When asked for proof, a member of the public in the courtroom stood up and confirmed having seen the officer seated in a corner during prior hearings. Magistrate Kayizzi acknowledged the seriousness of the concern, although he questioned why the issue was raised so late in the proceedings. Ssenkumi responded that the defense had not been informed that the officer would be testifying, nor had his statement been shared with them.
“I was unaware that he was one of the witnesses because we never received his statement,” Ssenkumi said, requesting that the officer be excluded from testifying.
Kayizzi assured the court he would review CCTV recordings and consult court orderlies to confirm whether the officer had attended the hearings on April 4, April 22, and May 16, 2025.
“I’m not going to rush the decision,” said the magistrate. “But if it’s confirmed that he was present during witness testimony, he will be disqualified from giving evidence.”
The case was adjourned until June 18, 2025, with Niwamanya ordered to remain in custody.
According to the prosecution, Niwamanya is accused of forging a letter bearing the First Lady’s scanned signature in an attempt to falsely name her as the patron of his group, Umoja Youth Initiative Development Uganda.
The forged letter was reportedly used to solicit sponsorship for a planned event at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Investigators later found that the document lacked distinct features of Mrs. Museveni’s genuine signature. It also included a vague salutation—“To Whom It May Concern”—which was inconsistent with official government communication standards.
Niwamanya denies the allegations. He was arrested on August 22, 2024, at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters in Kampala while allegedly in possession of the falsified documents.
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