NTUNGAMO: Ownership battles between a German citizens funded faith based organization (FBO)running several schools, community improvement projects and churches in Uganda and a pastor is threatening closure of business and continuity of education fund for over 200 children and livelihood for families sponsored by the organization.
The organization God Remembers Ministries International and God Remembers EV and their Founder Eicker Lea Katharina accuse businessman Mr Lauben Ndyanabangi (who is lso a born again faith pastor)and his wife Namaganda Winfred of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and duty of care, unjust enrichment, registering all the organization properties in his names or those of his family members and using money meant for communities to benefit his family.
The two parties have been in various courts of judicature in Uganda hoping to avert the development and seeking declaration of ownership or closure and compensations.
“There are so many challenges we encountered working with Mr Lauben, at the schools, in churches and the projects, all he is looking for is self-enrichment and doesn’t mind about the intention of the project which is to help households overcome poverty and marginalization, he only says he is from Uganda and we are from out of the country and can push us out when he wants.” Ms Katharina Lea told Daily Monitor in a WhatsApp call from Germany.
The FBO has sued Mr Lauben, his wife and three of the colleagues for fraud after finding out that the land he had reported as bought was instead family (his Father’s) land which he simply registered and that the registration was made in his own names other than that of the FBO that had provided money.
The land in question hosts the organization school Revival Faith Primary school in Ntungamo municipality that sponsored at least 165 vulnerable children for education.
In a suit to high court seen by Daily Monitor, the FBO accuses Mr Ndyanabangi of registering all their businesses in his names and getting income from them while they fundraised internationally to raise funds for their development to help the rural poor.
Whereas the organization provided money for purchase of four pieces of land at Kyamate in Ntungamo municipality, Mr Ndanabangi bought and registered the said land in his names and failed to transfer it in the organization’s name which according to the suit tantamount to fraud.
While the suit was filed in the Mbarara High curt as Civil suit No. 89, a date for hearing has not been set.
Mr Josia Eicker a partner in the FBO said they had invested over UShs 5bn in the project in South Buganda based at Masaka and Western Uganda at Ntungamo but Mr Ndyanabangi has frustrated their efforts that he is even selling part of the land bought under the project.
“We get reports every day that he is selling land that was bought for the project, this is the land we want court to put injunction on sell. If they sell before we resolve these matters, the people we bought it to benefit will never benefit. We have been looking at a big project to benefit many Ugandan children and their households, a model of what is done here in Europe.” Mr Josia said.
The project included providing livelihood to families with vulnerable children, paying for them school fees, building homes for some families to get proper shelter, improving Agriculture, providing free health services as well as medical insurance to those who could not afford among others. At least 165 children have been paid for by the scheme at Revival Faith Primary school and other over 200 at several primary schools including Kyamate primary school.
By building Revival Faith Primary school, Ms Katharina says they wanted to have a school with a European environment and tools, teaching using Ugandan curriculum.
Mr Ndyanabangi dismissed the allegations of fraud arguing that he only disagreed with the white funders on morality and approach of the project.
“This is a project we all want, it’s a project we can’t see destroyed, there are some issues we disagreed about, but we are handling them with security and may be court. The project both here and in Masaka are working well only that the funders who claim to be founders left the country.” Mr Ndyanabangi said.
There are other 8 criminal cases including attempted poisoning (on Ms Katharina), sexual assault, fraud being investigated by police and other security agencies against Mr Ndyanabangi. He however could not comment arguing that only his lawyer can make comments. He however could not share contacts of his lawyers.
Ms Marion Asingwire a member or the organization board who is sued together with Mr Ndyanabangi, his wife Namaganda Winfred, their daughter Mukibi Catherine and one Ainembabazi Racheal noted that the challenges at the organization and resultant suits are simply a result of third parties.
“This was going to be the most successful project ever in Ntungamo, but there are people who never wanted it. I think there was also some betrayal on the part of directors. This is the first project to see teachers get salaries on German scale, cooks received good salaries, everyone there was satisfied until someone took rumors to the funders.” Ms Asingwire said.
The Ntungamo Deputy resident district Commissioner Ms Rosemary Atuhaire said she has received several complaints from the school but hoped Courts may resolve them.
A Ntungamo Municipal inspector of schools says the project had one of the schools projected to be among the best performing in the municipality.
Ms Winfred Wimana whose family has been a beneficiary of the said her hopes to have her only child get education are fading after they were informed that the funders are pulling out from the project. Ms Wimana had however received goats from the project and had bene promised to have a house constructed for her.
Started in 2018 as a missionary project supporting vulnerable families, the mission started cracking in 2024 after funders identified cases of fraud. They have since October 2024 been in different battles in court and with security agencies.
