The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has sentenced businessman Male Nicholus to 18 months in prison for forging President Yoweri Museveni’s signature on government documents, including a letter seeking a 15-year renewal of a contract to manage MV Kalangala.
Male pleaded guilty to seven counts of forgery and uttering false documents. The court sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment on each count, with all the sentences running concurrently.
The case was investigated by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), while the prosecution was led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The case arose from an incident on 18 September 2025, when Male presented a forged letter dated 15 August 2025 to the Ministry of Works and Transport. The letter was purportedly signed by President Museveni and falsely claimed that he had directed the minister to renew Nation Oil Distributors Limited’s contract to manage MV Kalangala for another 15 years.
Male also delivered copies of the forged letter to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the offices of Nation Oil Distributors Limited in Ndeba, Kampala.
Investigators established that Male had earlier approached the company’s director, claiming to be an official working with the Office of the Prime Minister. He allegedly claimed to have connections with senior government officials who could influence the renewal of the company’s contract.
Investigations further found that Male had forged appointment letters bearing the names of several individuals and falsely presented them as documents issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.
In sentencing him, the court described the offences as a serious disregard for authority and an abuse of the President’s office.
The court said forging documents bearing the President’s signature could damage the reputation of the presidency, undermine public confidence in government institutions and encourage fraudulent schemes targeting unsuspecting members of the public.
