A Kampala businessman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to forging President Yoweri Museveni’s signature on government documents in an attempt to influence the renewal of a contract to manage MV Kalangala.
Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court convicted Nicholus Male on seven counts of forgery and uttering false documents.
The court sentenced him to 18 months’ imprisonment on each count but ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 18 months in prison.
The case arose from an incident on September 18, 2025, when Male allegedly presented a letter dated August 15, 2025, addressed to the Minister of Works and Transport and purportedly bearing the President’s signature.
The forged letter claimed that President Museveni had directed the minister to renew Nation Oil Distributors Limited’s contract to manage MV Kalangala for another 15 years.
According to the prosecution, Male delivered the document to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and the offices of Nation Oil Distributors Limited in Ndeba.
Investigations by the Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) further established that Male had earlier presented himself to the director of Nation Oil Distributors Limited as someone working with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
He allegedly claimed to have connections to senior government officials who could facilitate the renewal of the MV Kalangala management contract.
Investigators also established that Male had forged appointment letters bearing the names of several individuals, falsely claiming that the documents had been issued by the OPM.
In its sentencing remarks, the court described Male’s conduct as a serious disregard for authority and an abuse of the person and office of the President.
The court warned that such offences could damage the President’s reputation and encourage similar fraudulent schemes, including those involving the exploitation of unsuspecting members of the public for financial gain.
The prosecution was led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
