Pastor Sirajje Semanda of Revival Church in Bombo and lawyer Arinaitwe Jimmy were found guilty and given sentences of two and a half years in prison and the payment of a Sh405 million fine.
After a hearing that lasted more than two years, Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu read them her decision in this case.
The pair defrauded over 5,000 victims, including 400 private school owners and parents of vulnerable children, of over Sh4 billion using their organization, Hands Across the World Initiative, by making false promises to obtain for them scholarships, trips abroad, and connections to Operation Wealth Creation Uganda.
The duo was arrested on November 15 2020 following a countrywide outcry from victims.
On November 17, 2020, Sirajje and his co-accused made their initial court appearance before Luweero Grade One Magistrate John Paul Obuya. They were accused of conspiring to obtain money in violation of Section 309 of the Penal Code Act and obtaining money by false pretenses in violation of Section 305 of the Penal Code Act.
Later, the case was moved to Buganda Road Court, where it has been pending for the last two years.