Kampala — The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has sentenced two men for personation and cheating after they admitted to impersonating prominent businessman Hamis Kiggundu in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi handed Frank Sempa, a hawker, a fine of Shs600,000 on two counts. In the event he fails to pay the fine, Sempa will serve one year in prison.
His co-accused, Babu Maniharah, was fined Shs300,000, with a default sentence of six months imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
The duo pleaded guilty to the charges and opted for a plea bargain with the state, leading to a reduced sentence.
The court heard that the two had falsely presented themselves as Hamis Kiggundu in various instances, attempting to gain financial and other benefits through deception.
Their actions were in violation of the Penal Code Act provisions against personation and cheating, offenses that have become increasingly common amid the rise of digital communications and public impersonations.
During sentencing, Magistrate Kayizzi noted the gravity of impersonating a well-known individual and the potential harm such deception can cause to both the victims and the person impersonated.
However, he also took into account their guilty plea and willingness to enter a plea bargain, which saved the court’s time and resources.
Hamis Kiggundu, widely known as "Ham," is a prominent businessman, investor, real estate developer, philanthropist, and author.
Born on February 10, 1984, in Kalungu District, Uganda, he pursued his early education in Masaka and later attended Kabojja International School in Kampala.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University.
Kiggundu is the founder and CEO of the Ham Group of Companies, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning real estate, agro-processing, banking, education, and technology.
His business journey began in 2003 with garment trading, eventually expanding into large-scale real estate development, including projects like Ham Towers and Ham Shopping Mall in Kampala.
Beyond business, Kiggundu has authored motivational books such as Success and Failure Based on Reason and Reality (2018) and Reason as the World Masterpiece (2021).
He is also known for his philanthropic efforts and initiatives aimed at promoting industrialization and value addition in Uganda's agricultural sector.