Charles Byaruhanga was granted Shs3 million cash bail as he faces allegations linked to the transfer of about 2,097 acres of land belonging to a company associated with the late businessman James Musinguzi Garuga.
The Buganda Magistrates Court has granted Shs3 million cash bail to 65-year-old Charles Byaruhanga, who is accused of fraudulent dealings involving companies and property associated with the estate of the late businessman Dr James Musinguzi Garuga.
Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa granted bail subject to conditions requiring Byaruhanga to deposit the certificate of title for his land in Masajja, Wakiso District, and surrender his passport to court. His sureties were each bonded at Shs50 million.
The court also issued criminal summons for Byaruhanga’s co-accused, Agaba Magulu Male and Henry Hapa Nganwa.
At the centre of the case is the alleged transfer of about 849 hectares, equivalent to approximately 2,097 acres, of land at Bulemezi Ngoma in Nakaseke District.
The property is registered under Block 1004, Plot 2, Freehold Register Volume LUW 38, Folio 3, in the name of Incafex Limited, a company associated with Garuga’s business interests.
The prosecution alleges that the transfer was carried out without a valid board resolution or other lawful corporate authority and in violation of an injunction issued by the Supreme Court.
Prosecutors further allege that company records were manipulated through the filing of Company Form 20 and purported special resolutions.
Among the allegations is that Magulu was entered in company records as a director, while the same records listed the late Dr Garuga and other deceased individuals as directors.
The prosecution also alleges that Magulu and Nganwa participated in preparing and circulating purported special resolutions relating to Garuga Properties Limited and Incafex Limited, with the intention of deceiving and defrauding shareholders.
The allegations arise from a wider corporate dispute over control of the companies following Garuga’s death on August 6, 2025.
In July 2026, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) ordered the removal from the Companies Register of filings that had appointed Magulu as a director of Garuga Properties Limited, Kinkizi Development Company Limited and Incafex Limited.
The decision followed objections by shareholder Mathew Rukikaire, who challenged the legality of the resolutions and filings used to install Magulu as a director.
URSB Assistant Registrar of Companies Daniel Nasasira ruled that the disputed special resolutions and corresponding Company Form 20 filings for Kinkizi Development Company and Incafex Limited had been wrongfully obtained and ordered them expunged from the register.
The ruling also addressed the disputed appointment at Garuga Properties Limited.
Garuga had interests in several companies, including Garuga Properties, Kinkizi Development Company and Incafex. Garuga Properties is a majority shareholder in both Kinkizi Development Company and Incafex.
The criminal proceedings now place the disputed corporate filings and alleged land transfer before the courts. The allegations against the accused remain to be proved.