Embattled Rugiirwa Katatumba on the spot over court falsehoods on Shs120m loan criminal prosecution

Kampala, (UG):- Kampala City Tycoon, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia has put embattled Rugiirwa Katatumba, the son of late businessman Bonny Katatumba on the spot for allegedly falsifying in court over his criminal prosecution rotating around the Shs120m loan he defaulted.

Dr Sudhir, who is also the Chairman of Ruparelia Group and one of the Directors at Prime Finance Company Ltd which extended the credit to the accused says it is wrong to drag his name in a lawsuit which was clearly between the State and the accused person (Rugiirwa).

The Tycoon’s comments were in response to a recent ruling by the Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate, Her Worship Basajjabalaba Jalia in which she ordered that the criminal case be dismissed and the accused acquitted of the offences of obtaining money by false pretense.

The ruling (which was in error) according to Sudhir is what is making Rugiirwa drag in the name of Sudhir Ruparelia and yet it was a criminal case involving the government and the accused.

“It is misleading information that Rugiirwa Katatumba defeats Sudhir Ruparelia in court yet it is public knowledge that the government sued Rugiirwa in court. The Magistrate errored, she was totally out of order as she decided to give back the car given as security when the creditor was not a party,” Dr Sudhir told this website.

He added; “Criminal cases are about arrests and fines are not the release of security”.

Background of the case

Katatumba was accused of defaulting on debt obligations, leading to charges under Section 308(a) of the Penal Code Act Cap 128.

According to State Prosecution, Katatumba obtained the credit from Prime Finance in 2019 which incurred a debt of over sh120m from the sh60m he got in three instalments from the credit facility pretending that he would pay the money with interest.

However, he would then fail to service the loan after issuing several bouncing cheques which resulted in a criminal offence, and a case between him and the Uganda government was brought against him in courts of law.

Katatumba denied the charges despite being arrested, sent on remand to Kitalya Prison and produced in court several times till the recent ruling on July 24, 2024, when he was cleared of the charges and the case dismissed.

“This case has been dismissed and the accused person acquitted of the offences of obtaining credit by false pretence on counts 1,2, and 3 of the Penal Code Act Cap 128 as amended,” held Magistrate Basajjabalaba in a strange ruling in which she also ordered the release of Katatumba’s Mercedes Benz vehicle, which had been in possession of the financial institution, Prime Finance Company Ltd, where he obtained credit.

But Sudhir disagrees with the Magistrate that; “This is indeed totally odd and wrong.” “The magistrate was totally out of order as she can also not decide on a car given as security when the creditor is not a party(the party was Uganda) and criminal cases are about arrests and fines not the release of security.

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