In a startling development, the legal landscape surrounding the cases of David Balondemu has taken a dramatic turn as one of his lead attorneys, Robert Bautu, finds himself trapped in a forgery of the medical files presented to court to secure bail for the notorious Kampala lawyer.
Bautu, who spearheaded the defense team representing Balondemu, stands accused of orchestrating the forgery of documents, and a criminal file was opened up Vide AC GEF/250/2023 by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) from where criminal summons were extended to him.
“The Criminal Investigations Directorate in liaison with State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) is conducting inquiries into allegations of forgery and uttering of false medical documents at the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Buganda Road on 20th November 2023, during the hearing of a bail application vide Criminal Case No. 864 of 2023,” CID wrote to Bautu on November 24, 2023.
“It is alleged that two documents purportedly authored by Kampala Hospital indicating that Mr. Balondemu David had a scheduled surgery on 22nd November 2023, were submitted in support of the bail application. As one of the legal representatives of Mr. Balondemu, this is to summon you to appear before the undersigned, who sits at SH-ACU located at the 4th Floor, President’s Office, Parliament Building on Monday, 27th November 2023, at 12:00 pm, to assist in our investigations.”
Against the backdrop of the summons, Bautu and his team wrote a complaint to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Her Lordship, questioning why CID has instituted charges against counsel Bautu.
“On the 24th of November 2023, Senior State Attorney Buganda Road, Mr. Kyazze Ivan went ahead and complained against the Counsels for the accused at the State House Anti-Corruption Unit vide GEF/250/2023.
The criminal investigation directorate, CID headquarters Kibuli, issued summons to the advocates on the same date of 24th November 2023 to appear and make statements in respect of the medical documents presented for bail on behalf of Mr. Balondemu David, one of the accused persons vide a letter Reference No. CID/131/250A and the said letter has since been served to Mr. Bautu Robert and the rest of the Advocates are yet to be served summons,” reads part of the complaint to the DPP.
However, in their letter, they don’t reveal who could have forged the documents, considering that Balondemu was in jail.
Furthermore, the letter from Arcadia Advocates where Bautu sits doesn’t address questions of who gave them these hospital documents which the Court found faulty on November 23, claiming that Balondemu was to undergo surgery.
He was battling fraud charges for allegedly obtaining shs 2.2 billion from an investor. It’s alleged that KG Unlimited LLC, an American Company, was defrauded of Ugx 2.2Bn in a purported procurement of a water plant by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The fraudsters purported that PPDA was conducting the procurement on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture. All the money was paid through an account of M/s Bloom Advocates. Balondemu is believed to be the proprietor of the law firm through proxies.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, which investigated Balondemu, revealed that the notorious counsel is now facing 8 fresh counts ranging from fraud to forgery.
Reliable sources in the unit who spoke to this website on condition of anonymity said the investigation into falsifying of the medical documents was completed, and the file was sent to the DPP for further management. A source revealed that lawyers who presented the documents are key suspects in the case. Bautu is the lead counsel of Balondemu’s legal team.
The forgery cast a shadow of doubt over the integrity of the defense strategy employed by Bautu and his crew.
The revelation of Bautu’s alleged involvement in unethical conduct has sent shockwaves through legal circles, tarnishing the reputation of an individual entrusted with upholding the principles of justice and fairness.
As the lead lawyer representing Balondemu, Bautu held a position of significant responsibility, tasked with safeguarding the interests of his client within the bounds of the law.
However, the emergence of evidence suggesting his complicity in forgery raises serious questions about his ethical standards and professional integrity.