KAMPALA – A public outcry is growing over the case of Christine Kawono, a 52-year-old widow from Bunamwela Village, Budaka District, who has been allegedly defrauded of her compensation money by the very lawyer she entrusted to secure it.
Kawono, who lost her husband, had hoped to rebuild her life with Shs 225 million from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) for land taken for road projects. Instead, she remains in an unfinished house and is forced to dig in other people’s gardens to survive.
The heart of the allegation lies with her lawyer, Yoona Wesiire. According to the account, Kawono provided Wesiire with her personal bank account details (A/C No: 320454500855) to receive the funds. Shockingly, it is claimed that Wesiire diverted the payment into his own account, and the money was paid there by UNRA.
Despite her attempts to seek justice, Kawono has seen no resolution. The case has now taken a new turn, raising further questions about the lawyer’s conduct.
Following recent public pressure, Wesiire produced a receipt for Shs 195 million, dated September 19, 2024, purportedly as evidence of payment. However, this receipt conflicts with his statement in a July 19, 2025, interview with the Daily Monitor, where he claimed the matter was “handled by court & police” and made no mention of any payment having been made.
This discrepancy has led to serious public doubts, with key questions emerging:
- Why was only Shs 195 million paid, and what happened to the remaining Shs 30 million?
- Why did Wesiire not mention this payment in his 2025 interview?
- Why is the receipt presented with unnamed signatories and an unidentified thumbprint, raising concerns about its authenticity?
The situation has deepened with new, more serious allegations emerging from the public. There are claims that Wesiire may not have acted alone and that some judicial officers were involved in the case, with money allegedly shared among them. This has led to speculation that this may be the reason Wesiire has been confident in handling the matter through the courts and police, believing he had support from within the system.
The public appeal has now turned to institutions. The Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) and The Law Society of Uganda (@ug_lawsociety) are being called upon to break their silence and intervene. “If a widow cannot find justice from her own lawyer, where else can she turn?” the appeal questions.
The story, which was first published by the Daily Monitor and later by the New Vision, was recently brought back into the public eye by a concerned citizen who vowed to follow the case closely. The individual has also expressed a commitment to share the lawyer’s side of the story for the sake of transparency, should he agree to provide it.
An effort is underway to directly contact Christine Kawono, as the public continues to demand accountability and justice for the widow, proving that collective voices can rise to challenge alleged injustice.
