Dubai property scam: 28-year-old remanded over $61,900 fraud

A 28-year-old Ugandan man residing in Lamtara 1, Jumeirah, Dubai, has been remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly defrauding a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer of over $61,900 (approximately Shs 200 million) in a failed property investment deal.

Christopher Oscar Kato appeared before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court on Friday, where chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi charged him with one count of cheating.

Prosecution alleges that Kato received the money from Col Fred Zakye, a defence attaché based in Ethiopia, under the pretext of purchasing two rental apartments; units 204 and 205 in Lamtara 1, Dubai, on Zakye’s behalf.

Kato allegedly promised to manage the properties and remit rental income regularly. The funds were transferred to Kato’s Emirates Bank account as part of their agreement. While the apartments were reportedly acquired, the expected financial returns were not remitted transparently.

According to court documents, Zakye received only $32,000 in two partial installments of $20,000 in March 2023 and $12,000 in July 2023. Afterwards, multiple attempts to contact Kato reportedly went unanswered, prompting Zakye to file a police complaint on August 16, 2024.

Kato denied the charges. His legal team, led by Soriea Jessa, informed the court of plans to seek bail. However, the defense had not yet uploaded the required documentation to the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECMIS), now mandatory for all bail applications.

As a result, magistrate Kayizzi remanded Kato until June 4, 2025, advising him to organize proper paperwork and present more credible sureties. He emphasized that the court exercises strict scrutiny when granting bail to individuals residing outside Uganda. Senior state attorney Kyazze requested an adjournment, citing ongoing investigations.