Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered city lawyer Agaba Maguru and Henry Hapa Nganwa to appear before it in person, warning that warrants of arrest will be issued if they fail to comply.
The two were expected in court on Wednesday, 4th November, before Chief Magistrate Rita Kidasa to answer charges linked to the alleged illegal takeover of companies belonging to the late Dr James Musinguzi Garuga and the alleged unlawful sale of his properties.
They face charges of fraudulent transfer of title contrary to Section 174(1) of the Registration of Titles Act, making a false statement as an official of a company contrary to Section 303(1)(a) of the Penal Code Act, and conspiracy to defraud contrary to Section 289 of the Penal Code Act.
Neither accused appeared. Their lawyers from KBW Advocates told court they were unwell and had been advised by doctors to rest. Court was told that Maguru, 66, is battling peptic ulcers and had been booked for an endoscopic examination at Surgeon’s Plaza Hospital on the same day.
Nganwa, on the other hand, was said to have been admitted at Entebbe Lakeside Hospital after complaining of muscle weakness and a racing heart. He is reported to suffer from hypertension and diabetes, and was also said to have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, forcing him to move with the help of crutches.
His medical report indicated a blood pressure reading of 147/92mmHg and a heart rate of 81 beats per minute, and his doctor allegedly advised him to rest while on medication. After considering the defence submissions, the court issued fresh summons and ordered the two to appear in person on 13th January 2027 for the next hearing.
Sources close to Maguru say his concern is being seen in the dock and in the media, and how the Church, where he serves as a Lay Canon and Chancellor of North Kigezi Diocese, would view him if he is linked to the alleged sale of properties belonging to his late long-time friend and employer, Dr Garuga.
According to the charge sheet, on 16th July 2025, Byaruhanga, listed as A3 and a resident of Kikajo Zone, Masajja Division, together with Maguru, listed as A1, and Nganwa, listed as A2, allegedly executed sale and transfer forms for land in Block 1004, Plot 2, Freehold Register Volume LUW 38, Folio 3, measuring about 8.49 hectares at Bulemezi, Ngoma, in Nakaseke District.
Prosecution alleges this was done without a valid board resolution, without lawful corporate authority, and in defiance of a subsisting Supreme Court injunction dated 17th November 2023.
The charge sheet further alleges that Byaruhanga, Maguru, Ferdinand Byamugisha, Johnny Musinguzi, Peace Kesiime Bagorogoza, Philip Musinguzi and Rowena Musinguzi on the same date, in Kampala, conspired to defraud INCAFEX Limited of the same Ngoma land, without board authorisation from INCAFEX Limited and its subsidiary, Garuga Properties Limited.
Separately, Maguru is wanted together with Peace Kesiime Bagorogoza by the Police Land Protection Unit in Makindye to assist in investigations into another 296.74 hectares at Busanga, Kome Island, Kyaggwe County, Mukono District. They are wanted alongside Mugabe R. Rurenga, Nathan Rwankiiko and Mani Stephen.
The probe follows a complaint by Alwyn Carl Garuga Musinguzi, son of the late Garuga. He reported that Mani Stephen fraudulently leased the said land as proprietor to Erunger Property Limited for 99 years on 17th December 2024, yet the land was still registered in his father’s names. The agreement, reportedly prepared by Maguru’s law firm, describes the property as approximately 296.74 hectares under Block 516, Plot 12, at Busanga, Kome Island, Kyaggwe.
Alwyn says there are no transfer forms showing the land moved from James Garuga to Mani Stephen, and therefore Mani could not have sold land that was not his.
He adds that Mani, a local employee earning about Shs3 million per month, was too poor to have bought the land from James Garuga. After Mani allegedly leased the land to Erunger in 2025, Garuga reportedly instructed his company secretary, Maguru, to write to the local chairperson of the area to confirm his ownership.
On his boss’s instructions, on 9th January 2025, Maguru wrote to the LC1 chairman of Busanga Village, Kome Island, confirming that the land indeed belonged to Dr Garuga. Maguru also reportedly introduced Amon Akatuhurira and Kayoole, whom Garuga sent to open the boundaries of his land.
Alwyn now wants to know how Mani Stephen, who was not close to the late businessman, came to lease his father’s land to British nationals for 99 years. Records show a lease agreement between Mani Stephen, listed as lessor, and Erunger Property Limited, whose address is given as 40 Don Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE2 4TR.
The stated premium is US$3,298,365, over US$3.2 million, while the annual ground rent is listed at just US$135, which the agreement says would not be revised during the lease term. Alwyn, however, maintains there is no evidence that Erunger paid the money to Mani Stephen and his group.
He says searches show the company’s alleged British directors have never been to Uganda, adding that it is a fictitious company allegedly used to grab land where his father had planted pine trees for over 30 years, estimated at Shs40 billion.
Alwyn, who is also the customary heir of the late Garuga, alleges Kesiime and Maguru conspired and sold the land behind his late father’s back.
He believes the huge money involved could be linked to why Dr Garuga allegedly lost his life under unclear circumstances after he was reportedly blocked from accessing medical treatment abroad at the request of his personal doctors in the UK.
Peace Bagorogoza is also wanted by police for allegedly transferring over 5 square miles of the late Garuga’s land in Kanungu into her personal names after her husband’s suspicious death.
