UGANDA, Jinja | Real Muloodi News | Jinja Grade One Magistrate Anxious Atumanya on Tuesday 13th February, 2024 remanded businessman Medadi Fredrick Ongwen to Kirinya Prisons in Jinja City over allegations of intermeddling with his deceased wife’s estate and uttering false documents.
This action comes as Ongwen faces charges of mismanagement and forgery related to his late wife’s properties, following a tumultuous legal battle.
Ongwen’s bail application was denied for the second time on Tuesday 13th February, 2024, marking the businessman’s continued stay in remand until Thursday, 15th February, 2024.
His defence lawyer, Daniel Mudumbusi, argued for the bail application to be heard in the Grade One magistrate’s court, while Jinja Resident State Attorney Moses Atoe pushed for the chief magistrate’s court to handle the matter.
However, the decision ultimately fell in favour of the Grade One magistrate’s jurisdiction.
The case against Ongwen stems from his purported marriage to deceased banker Cissy Bazanya in 1982. Despite presenting documents indicating their marriage, including a marriage certificate allegedly issued in 1995, Ongwen faced resistance from Bazanya’s family following her passing in 2018.
The Jinja High Court ruled in November 2023 that Ongwen and Bazanya were not legally married, ordering Ongwen to relinquish control of properties held in Bazanya’s name.
Among the contested properties are a commercial building on Plot 78, Main Street, and a residential building on Plot 32, Mvule Crescent, both located in Jinja City.
Additionally, Ongwen is accused of retaining control over a vehicle and a plot of land in Bujawali Village, Buikwe District, owned by Bazanya.
Ongwen’s defence has presented various documents, including a marriage certificate purportedly issued by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, to support his claim of a legal marriage to Bazanya.
However, witnesses, including Bazanya’s sister and the church clerk, have contested the validity of these documents, alleging that they do not align with official records.
While Ongwen’s sister testified to the legitimacy of his relationship with Bazanya, asserting that they were legally married and engaged in various business ventures together, conflicting accounts have emerged from other witnesses.
Bazanya’s sister denied Ongwen’s marital status to Bazanya, alleging that he sought to unlawfully seize control of her estate.
As Ongwen remains in remand pending further legal proceedings, the case underscores the complexities and disputes often surrounding estate management and inheritance rights.
With testimonies conflicting and evidence under scrutiny, the resolution of this case remains uncertain, leaving both parties awaiting a definitive legal outcome.
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