KAMPALA, Uganda | Kenneth Niwamanya, who is accused of forging the signature of First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni, has also been placed under remand by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court.

In accordance with suggested bail guidelines, Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi declared that the sureties offered were inappropriate due to their advanced age.

Additionally, Kayizzi stated that the trial had already begun and that the case would not be delayed.

An investigating officer had been called to testify on behalf of the prosecution, which was headed by Ivan Kyazze. Nicholas Ssenkumi, Niwamanya’s attorney, countered that the officer’s presence in court during the testimony of other prosecution witnesses jeopardises the impartiality of the proceedings.

When the magistrate asked for evidence, a member of the public gallery stood up and told the court that the officer had, in fact, been spotted sitting in a corner during previous sessions.

Magistrate Kayizzi stated that in order to confirm attendance at sessions on April 4, April 22, and May 16, 2025, he would examine CCTV footage and speak with court orderlies.

“I don’t want to rush the decision, but the officer will be automatically disqualified if it is confirmed that he was present when other witnesses testified.” According to Chief Magistrate Kayizzi,

They postponed the case until June 18, 2025. It is alleged that Niwamanya falsified the First Lady’s signature on a letter asking her to serve as the patron of his organisation, Umoja Youth Initiative Development Uganda.

In order to raise money from different offices for a planned event at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the letter purportedly bearing Mrs Museveni’s scanned signature was used. However, subsequent investigations showed that the letter lacked important characteristics of Mrs Museveni’s real signature.