A city lawyer has been charged and remanded for allegedly conspiring to steal over USD 56,500 from retired Supreme Court judge Professor George Kanyeihamba.
Andrew Obam, an advocate and managing partner of Loi Advocates, was arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on charges of money laundering. The case is being handled by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working in coordination with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
According to prosecutors, between October 2022 and September 2024, Obam allegedly conspired with David Kaliisa, a personal driver to Professor Kanyeihamba, to fraudulently steal several cheques from the retired judge. These cheques were reportedly forged or otherwise unlawfully altered to effect unauthorized withdrawals totaling over USD 56,500.
Investigations revealed that the stolen funds were then laundered through an account belonging to Loi Advocates, a law firm where Obam is the sole signatory. Prosecutors argue that this account was deliberately used to disguise the origin of the funds and conceal the illegal nature of the transactions.
Obam was formally charged with money laundering and conspiracy to defraud, and was remanded to prison until July 14, 2025, when he is expected to return to court to take plea.
The alleged accomplice, Kaliisa David, has not yet appeared in court, and it remains unclear whether he is in custody or still under investigation.
The case has drawn considerable public attention not only because of the involvement of a high-profile victim—Prof. George Kanyeihamba—but also due to the increasing trend of white-collar crime involving members of the legal profession.
State House Anti-Corruption Unit, posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) confirming the arrest and court appearance of the suspect.
Prof. Kanyeihamba, a respected constitutional law scholar, former Supreme Court judge, and author, has not yet publicly commented on the case. However, sources familiar with the matter describe him as “shocked and deeply betrayed” by individuals who had access to his personal affairs.
Legal experts say the case raises serious ethical concerns regarding how lawyers manage client trust and law firm accounts, and whether sufficient safeguards exist to prevent internal fraud in Uganda’s legal industry.
The prosecution is expected to present bank records, forged cheque documents, and electronic transfer logs as part of its case against Obam. If convicted, Obam could face heavy penalties, including imprisonment, disbarment, and forfeiture of any assets obtained through criminal means.
