Kato Absolom, a prominent lawyer from KAAB Advocates, has been arrested in Kampala following a prolonged period in hiding. Absolom is a key suspect in a sophisticated fraud scheme that defrauded the Qatar-based Ascend Group of Shs 1.2 billion.
For months, Absolom has evaded capture by relocating to Nairobi and Turkey, keeping his whereabouts and communications tightly concealed.
His phones were turned off to avoid detection, but security forces remained vigilant, closely monitoring his movements.
On Monday morning, security agents, led by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit under Brigadier Henry Isoke, apprehended Absolom in Kampala.
He is currently being held at the Kireka Special Investigations Division (SID). Authorities discovered that Absolom had quietly returned to Uganda, attempting to live inconspicuously.
Absolom’s arrest is a significant development in the investigation into the elaborate scam that orchestrated the fraudulent loss of Shs 1.2 billion from Ascend Group. The scheme involved fabricating a $120 million procurement contract for technical schools in Uganda, supposedly under the auspices of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.
The scam was perpetuated through false representations by individuals posing as NRM officials.
Key figures included Mike Mutebi and Alex Ampurira, who misrepresented themselves as members of NRM committees, and David Mugabe, a fabricated chairman, who guided Ascend Group through the fraudulent process.
Kato Absolom, along with Arthur Mwebesa of Mwebesa and Company Advocates, played crucial roles in facilitating the fraud. The two law firms were instrumental in convincing Ascend Group to remit substantial funds as part of the bogus contract’s prerequisites.
Earlier in the investigation, only counsel Mwebesa was arrested and later released on bail pending further inquiries. However, Absolom’s disappearance added complexity to the case. His arrest is expected to shed more light on the intricate details of the scam and lead to further legal proceedings.
In Febriary when this website contacted Counsel Mwebesa, he denied receiving the Shs 1.2 billion in his bank account, despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting otherwise.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that Absolom will soon be presented in court to answer charges related to the fraud. The exact date of his court appearance remains undisclosed.
This arrest highlights the commitment of Ugandan authorities to combat corruption and bring perpetrators to justice, reaffirming that evasion will not grant immunity from the law.