The Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded 33-year-old Ritah Namalwa to Luzira Prison until October 21 on charges of forgery, impersonation, and the theft of Shs700 million from a pastor.
During a court appearance on Thursday, presided over by magistrate Andrew Katurubuki, Namalwa, who resides in Nsasa Bulindo, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, was officially charged.
According to court documents, between 2020 and 2024, Namalwa, along with accomplices who remain at large, allegedly embezzled $86,000 (approximately 315 million shillings) and Shs374 million from Dunamis Media and Prayer Palace Ministry located in Nakawa Division, Kampala.
Bishop Grivas Musisi Kiwanuka, the lead pastor of Prayer Palace Ministries and director of Dunamis Broadcasting Services, the owner of Dunamis Radio, reported the case. Court documents reveal that Kiwanuka applied for a television broadcast license on April 3, 2024, as mandated by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Act.
Namalwa and her husband, Daniel Jed Kabanda, who is currently evading capture, are accused of posing as UCC officials. They allegedly deceived the bishop into handing over Shs700 million by promising to secure two licenses for television stations.
She faces additional charges for claiming to be an engineer and the personal assistant to the UCC executive director. Furthermore, she has been charged with using forged documents, including fake UCC tax invoices, receipts, and business cards, all falsely identifying her as an engineer and assistant to the UCC executive director.
While Namalwa has pleaded not guilty to all charges, the state attorney was absent from court to provide updates on the investigation.
