Two individuals have been fined by Buganda Road Court for impersonating prominent Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu, widely known as Ham.
Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi sentenced Frank Sempa, a hawker, and Babu Maniharah, a builder, to fines of Shs300,000 and Shs600,000, respectively, after both pleaded guilty to the charges. They also agreed to become state witnesses.
The pair entered a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution, which led to lighter penalties.
“You are hereby convicted on your own plea of guilty,” Magistrate Kayizzi stated. “Following the agreement between the prosecution and the accused, endorsed by this court, each convict is sentenced to pay Shs300,000 or serve six months in prison if they fail to pay.”
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In addition, Sempa was ordered to refund Shs50,000 that he had fraudulently obtained from one Shafiq Kawooya by impersonating Ham and promising to help him secure a loan.
Prosecutor Ivan Kyazze informed the court that both accused had no previous criminal records and should be treated as first-time offenders. The prosecution confirmed that the plea bargain involved the complainant and that all evidence intended for trial was shared in the presence of the accused’s lawyer, with their rights clearly explained.
This sentencing follows a similar case earlier in the week in which 18-year-old student Ruth Nandase was fined Shs100,000 after pleading guilty under a plea bargain agreement for the same impersonation offense.
According to the prosecution, between 2023 and February 2024, Sempa, Maniharah, Nandase, and other accomplices still at large falsely posed as Hamis Kiggundu of Hamis Enterprises Ltd, attempting to defraud individuals across Kampala’s Central Division.
Specifically, on January 29, 2025, Sempa was accused of swindling Shs50,000 from Shafic Kawooya by pretending to be Kiggundu and promising to secure a loan for him.
Another co-accused, Ronald Mwandha, rejected the plea bargain and pleaded not guilty. He remains in custody as his trial continues.
Court records also mention a separate incident in which a man named Serugo interacted with a TikTok user impersonating Ham. The impersonator offered financial help and requested a deposit for “security” purposes, but the contact number given turned out to be invalid.
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