Dr. Dennis Daniel Ssemugenyi, a Ugandan multibillionaire residing in North America, is embroiled in a fresh and explosive dispute over his multi-billion shilling properties in Kampala’s upscale Kololo area, alleging a coordinated “mafia” plot involving government officials, police, lawyers, and bankers to illegally seize his assets.
The dramatic developments unfold just hours after Dr. Ssemugenyi celebrated a significant legal victory, which saw the High Court last month order DFCU Bank to unfreeze his bank accounts after more than ten months of unjust closure.
In a strongly worded ruling delivered on Thursday, August 21, 2026, Justice Isaac Muwata of the Criminal Division declared the continued freeze of Dr. Ssemugenyi’s accounts and those of his company, Daniel Dennis Investment Group Ltd, as “neither correct, legal, nor proper,” describing it as a miscarriage of justice that violated both the Computer Misuse Act and the Constitution of Uganda.
The accounts had been frozen following a complaint by Thorington Capital Markets Ltd, which accused Dr. Ssemugenyi of fraudulently obtaining USD 120,000 in processing fees for a proposed USD 35 million loan facility that never materialized.
However, Dr. Ssemugenyi’s brief moment of relief was shattered when, on the very day of the High Court’s ruling, a fresh land grab scandal erupted at his Kololo Hilltop Residence and Windsor Crescent Plot 48A.
According to Dr. Ssemugenyi, armed intruders, reportedly backed by the Kira Division Police Commander (DPC), illegally forced entry into his properties, which serve as both offices and homes.
“According to video evidence, the group was led by one David Kenneth Numembi, who claims ownership of the properties despite never purchasing them,” Dr. Ssemugenyi stated in a public statement. He further detailed a rapid and allegedly fraudulent transfer of titles: “Investigations show that fraudulent title transfers were orchestrated in less than two weeks, moving ownership from Canaanze Constructions Ltd to Joseph Gwatudde Kasule, then to Kaweesi Fred, and finally to Numembi — who immediately mortgaged the property for UGX 800 million at Tropical Bank.”
The tycoon made explosive allegations regarding the intruders’ claims: “Shockingly, Numembi was accompanied by Deborah, a manager at Hilltop Residence, and claimed to be acting on the instructions of First Lady Janet Museveni.”
Dr. Ssemugenyi added, “Witnesses also allege that a man claiming to have been sent by husband of Afande Nakalema threatened that he bought 2 of the properties of Dr. Ssemugenyi from Tropical Bank, and his company offices from Dfcu Bank.”
Dr. Ssemugenyi vehemently denies having any loans with these banks. He insists that he legitimately purchased these properties from Universal Multipurpose Enterprises and Canaanze Constructions Ltd, with “all developers confirm[ing] and recogniz[ing] that I am the rightful buyer.”
He lamented the situation, stating, “Yet, despite clear ownership, a network of lawyers, bankers, and police officers appear to be colluding to grab multi-billion shilling assets in broad daylight.”
The alleged illicit transactions are further illuminated by official correspondences. Yvonne Mary Amutuhaire, the Registrar of Titles at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, in response to a ‘request for search’ from K&K Advocates (a law firm in which Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka reportedly has an interest), confirmed that the land in Kololo had been registered to David Kenneth Numembi on August 15, 2025, under instrument no. KCCA-00159382. Amutuhaire further noted that the property was mortgaged at Tropical Bank on August 19, 2025, to secure Shs840 million.
On August 21, 2025, K&K Advocates reportedly wrote to Knight Frank Uganda, the property managers, introducing David Kenneth Numembi as the registered proprietor of the disputed Windsor Crescent property.
Dr. Ssemugenyi has described these title transfers as illegal and is now seeking justice, asserting that he will not relinquish his properties. He also alleges a broader “witch hunt,” accusing the Attorney General of attempts to freeze his bank accounts abroad, specifically in Mauritius, over claims of undeclared income from his Mauritius businesses, which he vehemently denies.
The billionaire’s representatives further reported grave threats: “These grabbers changed locks, packed away all my belongings, and even threatened to shoot and kill my family or representatives if we ever step near the properties.”
As Dr. Ssemugenyi vows to fight these allegations and reclaim his properties, the unfolding saga highlights serious concerns over land tenure security and the alleged complicity of powerful individuals and institutions in Uganda.
