Nteza, known for his tireless efforts in defending the rights of land and property owners against land grabbers in Uganda, has been facing a lengthy legal battle. This battle put his impeccable reputation and that of his esteemed law firm on the line, all thanks to what he refers to as “mafias” in the area.

The principal witness and complainant, Aidah Nakachwa, had accused Nteza of defrauding her. However, the High Court ruling now clears Nteza of any wrongdoing in the matter. Nteza has always maintained that he was merely doing his job, facilitating a legitimate land transaction between two parties.

The disputed land transaction in question involved Interlink Educational Services Uganda Limited (the buyers) and the beneficiaries of the Late Kamya’s estate, led by Abdul Ssewava (the sellers/vendors). Nteza, as an experienced land and property lawyer, was acting on behalf of the sellers.

The sale agreement between the parties was prepared by the lawyers representing Interlink Educational Services. It was a legitimate transaction, with the sellers legally transferring their interest in the land/estate of the late George Kamya. Nteza, not being a party to the transaction, was wrongfully accused of obtaining money by false pretenses.

Justice Muwata’s ruling described the case in the lower court as an abuse of the court process and stayed the criminal proceedings, emphasizing that the pending civil dispute would determine who should refund the disputed sum of Shs195 million. Moreover, Justice Muwata noted that continuing the case in the lower court would prejudice Nteza, who served as the lawyer for both the vendors in the disputed land transaction and the vendors in the High Court case.

The High Court ruling followed an application by Nteza’s lawyers from Muwema and Co. Advocates, challenging his trial at Buganda Road Court. The charges in the lower court stemmed from the alleged land transaction between the beneficiaries of the late George Kamya’s estate and Interlink Education Services, who claimed Nteza fraudulently obtained Shs195 million.

However, the court documents showed that the directors of Interlink had filed the complaint in 2022 after Nteza refused to compel his clients, led by Abdul Sewaya, to refund the money. Nteza had only provided legal counsel to the sellers, and the transaction was subsequently concluded without his further involvement.

With a pending civil case against the vendors, in which Nteza is co-accused, he remains optimistic that justice will ultimately prevail for him. Justice Muwata’s advice to rely on the facts of the case is a testament to his confidence that the truth will emerge, just as it did in the High Court.

In 2014, Interlink Education Services sued 13 beneficiaries of the late Kamya’s estate for breaching the sales agreement by failing to provide a land title and remove squatters from the disputed land. Nteza was accused of not advising his clients to fulfill the sale agreement.

Despite the legal battle, Aidah Nakachwa, the principal witness, reportedly proposed a settlement in a letter dated April 20, 2023. Surprisingly, the letter did not demand a refund of the disputed Shs195 million but requested that Nteza disclose other pieces of land owned by his clients to withdraw the criminal case. Nteza and his lawyers rejected the proposal, maintaining that the charge against him was malicious and an abuse of due process.

The case has taken an intriguing turn with the revelation of a marital dispute between Nakachwa and Nsubuga Jimson, who she claims to be her husband. Nsubuga and Nakachwa had separated, and Nakachwa’s claims of their relationship seemed to be motivated by an attempt to gain control of Nsubuga’s property.

In 2022, Nsubuga returned from the United States to Uganda to address the land issue and sought the assistance of the Anti-Corruption Unit. The unit, led by Chairman Stanley Eloku, decided to withdraw the criminal case against Nteza after finding it based on falsehoods and resolved to pursue the civil suit.

Nsubuga’s revelation that he was no longer married to Nakachwa shocked the officials present, further complicating the case. As the legal battle continues, all parties eagerly await the court’s final judgment, with the hope that justice will ultimately prevail.

Through his lawyers, Nteza had contended that the criminal charges were based on facts similar to a civil case filed in 2014 that is still pending determination before the land division in which he is a party. Nteza had also argued that he was maliciously being prosecuted in regard to a land transaction in which he was neither the seller nor did he receive any money from the complainant but he signed as a witness.

He had asserted that after the transaction in 2013, disputes arose between the purchaser, Interlink Educational Services Ltd and the seller Eva Nannozi alongside her 12 siblings, leading to filing a case at the High Court, Land Division. Nteza, who was clad in his trade mark forest black suit, black shoes complete with his signature face mask pensively darted his eyes in the chambers as his lawyers Anthony Tomusange and Kamoga Joshua fruitlessly tried arguing that the trail also be dismissed over the absence of the principal witness in the matter.

Proceedings were briefly interrupted as counsel Tomusange, who was supported by Nteza tried to convince the presiding magistrate to excuse the media from the matter, a request which was hastily dealt with a caution and direction on how to cover the issue to the relief of the journalists present.

This was during the hearing of a case in which local property dealer Mohammed Kamoga was sued by a one Peter Babingamba over a land matter, before the presiding Land Division assistant Registrar, Simon Kintu Zirintusa.

As the proceedings were in tandem, an irritated Kamoga, continuously raised his hand in a bid to catch the eye of the magistrate, to little or no avail. His lawyers and Nteza, were continuing to deliberate on the matter.

Kamoga, in true clandestine jungle law style, embarked on an adlib protest that forced Lordship Zirintusa, to enquire who he was and why he had cause to interrupt with the proceedings.

“Your honor I have information here that the applicant’s lawyer Kintu Nteza Felix, does not have a valid practicing certificate and cannot be in this court,” he raised the matter. When the judge advised him that he should have done it through his lawyer, the businessman said the issue was pertinent that he had to raise it himself.

He then presented a document from the Chief Registrar, Sarah Langa to substantiate his argument: “I make reference to your letter dated November, 8^th 2021 and this is to inform you that Mr. Kintu Nteza Felix is an advocate of the courts of judicature who last renewed his practicing certificate on 18^th April 2018 vide certificate number 5878,” read in part, the documents from the Chief Registrar.

More drama then ensued when Nteza claimed that he was making a phone call to his chambers for his assistants to deliver the prerequisite practicing certificate that he said was hanged on his office wall. This forced the registrar to adjourn the session for about twenty minutes. 

During this time, Nteza was making loud statements to whoever cared, that he was a professional and that he would be absolved of the alleged anomaly when his assistants appeared. Going ahead, he warned members of the press not to run the nitty-gritty of the ‘lies’ being peddled. He further dismissed the claims as a scheme aimed at wasting court’s time.

He insisted that he owns an entire law firm; Kintu Nteza and Co. Advocates which he said has over seven lawyers, all of whom with practicing certificates. However, on resumption from a 30-minute break, journalists were not allowed into the court to listen to the proceedings over the matter.

Nevertheless, insider sources confirmed to us that what Kintu`s assistants presented was documents to do with his firm and not his person. This forced His Lordship Zirintusa to adjourn the case to November, 29^th to allow the court carry out a verification about the practicing certificate for the lawyer and the earlier document presented by businessman Kamoga.

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