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A sensational fraud case involving billions of shillings, allegations of counterfeit currency and a prominent Ugandan businessman has exploded in court after consultancy firm Newplan boss Omulen Levy Lawrence was cited in a purported fake money racket during proceedings that saw eleven suspects remanded to Luzira Prison on Tuesday.The eleven suspects are accused of defrauding businessman Omulen Levy Lawrence of more than $2.5 million (approximately Shs11 billion) and laundering the proceeds through a series of transactions spanning several districts.The accused include Peter Lubwama, Henry Ochown alias Malong Tong, Pascal Owori alias Majong Steven, Hassan Mohammed Abdallah, Doreen Nabiimara, Sabano Phiro Moureen, Frank Kamya, Willy Sserunjogi, Samuel Ssempala, Juma Okech and Richard Kanakulya.According to prosecution, the suspects and others still at large allegedly obtained money from Omulen between May 2023 and July 2024 by falsely claiming that they were jointly investing in the development of an industrial park in Namawojjolo, Mukono District.Court documents indicate that the complainant allegedly lost more than $2.568 million through cash payments, bank deposits and mobile money transactions conducted in Kampala, Busia, Mbale and Pallisa districts.The suspects face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, receiving stolen property, uttering counterfeit currency notes, possession of forged currency notes and money laundering.Prosecution further alleges that part of the suspected proceeds was used to acquire land, motor vehicles and other assets, which were later transferred to various individuals in an attempt to conceal their origin.The accused appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ritah Neumbe Kidasa but were not allowed to enter pleas because some of the offences are capital in nature and fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.The magistrate remanded the suspects to Luzira Prison until July 9, 2026, to allow police to complete investigations and apprehend additional suspects who remain at large.However, in a dramatic twist, the accused, who collectively face more than 45 charges, denied wrongdoing and instead alleged that the complainant, Omulen Levy Lawrence, is involved in a counterfeit currency racket.The allegations were raised in court as part of the suspects’ defence but have not been independently verified.The court drama comes months after the same Newplan Limited found itself at the centre of another high-profile controversy after Parliament’s Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development pushed back against a proposal to waive UGX18.86 billion in tax arrears owed by the company.The tax waiver request was presented by former Minister of State for Finance (General Duties) Henry Musasizi, who cited sustained financial distress, heavy indebtedness and difficulties in recovering the tax arrears as grounds for remission under Section 43 of the Tax Procedures Code Act.The proposed waiver covered outstanding Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Withholding Tax amounting to UGX18,863,696,674 following a recommendation by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).But legislators on the Finance Committee were unconvinced.MPs questioned why a company involved in some of Uganda’s largest infrastructure projects, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Karuma Hydropower Dam and Isimba Hydropower Dam, should be granted relief after failing to remit statutory taxes.“There is no convincing justification,” committee members argued while demanding full disclosure of the company’s ownership structure and financial position.Legislators further faulted what they described as indiscipline in failing to remit PAYE and VAT despite collecting the taxes.Several MPs questioned how a firm entrusted with strategic national infrastructure projects could fail to remit taxes deducted at source, warning that such conduct undermines tax compliance and creates a dangerous precedent.Newplan Limited, formerly known as Norplan Uganda Limited, was registered in 1995 as a joint venture between Norplan of Norway and Lawrence Levy Omulen.The company rebranded to Newplan in 2008 and became a Ugandan-owned company in 2009 following a management buyout.In 2014, Norway’s Multiconsult ASA acquired Norplan AS’s 40 percent stake before the company eventually became 100 percent Ugandan-owned in 2017, with Newplan Group Limited holding 90 percent ownership and employees holding the remaining 10 percent.The firm has since expanded its operations into Rwanda and Kenya while diversifying into construction, materials testing and engineering procurement services.Newplan has previously been associated with Isaac Serukenya, who publicly described the company as a leading local consultancy with expertise in infrastructure development, oil and gas, energy, transport and social safeguards, while emphasizing its commitment to ethics and integrity standards.Now, with eleven suspects cooling their heels in Luzira Prison over an alleged Shs11 billion investment scam and explosive counterfeit currency allegations surfacing in court, the spotlight has once again turned to one of Uganda’s most prominent engineering firms and its top leadership.GOT A HOT STORY? 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