KAMPALA — A 31-year-old housewife, Elizabeth Mbabazi, has been sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to her role in an attempted Shs725 million fraud targeting Stanbic Bank, before turning state witness against her co-accused.
Mbabazi was convicted by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court after entering a plea bargain with the prosecution, admitting to charges including forgery, personation and attempted theft.
Chief Magistrate Ritah Kidasa ruled that the sentence would run concurrently, taking into account the five months and 13 days Mbabazi had already spent on remand.
Immediately after her conviction, Mbabazi testified for the state, detailing how she was recruited into the scheme.
Recruited with promise of quick money
In her testimony, Mbabazi told court that she was lured into the fraud by a co-accused who promised her money from what was described as a charitable account funded by pastors abroad.
She said she later met other suspects on the day of the attempted fraud and was instructed to accompany them to Stanbic Bank to present documents.
Mbabazi told court she had been promised Shs10 million if the transaction succeeded.
Foiled bank fraud attempt
Prosecution states that the group attempted to withdraw Shs725 million from an account belonging to Enid Kukunda by impersonating her.
According to court records, the suspects allegedly forged a national identity card and a withdrawal slip bearing Kukunda’s details.
Mbabazi reportedly presented the documents at Stanbic Bank’s Acacia Mall branch, posing as the account holder, but bank officials detected irregularities and alerted security before any money was withdrawn.
The suspects were arrested shortly after.
Co-accused still on trial
The remaining suspects face charges including forgery, uttering false documents, personation, conspiracy to commit a felony and attempted theft.
They denied the charges and remain on remand as the trial continues.
Court is expected to hear further prosecution witnesses, with Mbabazi’s testimony likely to play a key role in the case.
