Rugiirwa Katatumba, the son of late businessman Bonny Katatumba has become a symbol of scandal and controversy casting a long shadow over his father’s once-esteemed legacy.
Rugiirwa’s involvement in financial scandals is well documented since over the years he has repeatedly been accused of defrauding business partners out of their hard-earned money.
In 2020 alone, Rugiirwa was accused by bar owners of swindling them out of millions. The bar business is one of the most lucrative ventures in Uganda, a country known for its high alcohol consumption. In fact, a 2016 study by AFKinsider ranked Uganda as the second-highest consumer of alcohol in Africa, following Nigeria. A similar 2014 survey by the Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health ranked Uganda as the highest consumer of alcohol per capita in East Africa, with 23.7 liters of pure alcohol consumed per person annually.
Recognizing the industry’s potential, a group of bar owners formed the Bar, Club, and Entertainment Owners Association to push for collective interests and better opportunities.
However, shortly after its formation, the association collapsed due to money issues. Rugiirwa, the association’s pioneer chairman, registered the organization in his name and that of his family members without informing the other members.
As a result, he effectively controlled the association and kept all its essential documents, including the constitution and bank account details. After collecting contributions from the 150 members, Rugiirwa failed to provide any accountability, and the association disbanded.
Years earlier, Rugiirwa had a falling out with his once-close friend, Spear Abowe, the former owner of Club Rouge on Jinja Road. Their friendship ended in 2013 when they went into business together, opening a bar in Kabalagala called Monte Carlo (formerly Obama’s Bar). Abowe invested heavily in the venture, entrusting Rugiirwa with managing it. However, Rugiirwa embezzled profits, using the money for personal gain and lavishing it on young ladies who frequented the bar.
When Abowe discovered this, the two had a bitter confrontation that ended their friendship. To this day, they remain estranged.
In 2021, Rugiirwa was remanded by the Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of electronic fraud under the Computer Misuse Act of 2011. He was accused of defrauding Pegasus Technology Limited of UGX 206 million between January and February 2018, purportedly for services rendered by Katatumba Safaris Limited. Additionally, he was charged with receiving stolen property.
Rugiirwa’s financial scandals even extended to his own family. While managing his father’s Hotel Diplomate, he reportedly embezzled millions of shillings. This revelation nearly caused his father, Bonny Katatumba, to suffer a heart attack. Consequently, his father fired him and replaced him with his twin sister, Angella Katatumba. It took years for Rugiirwa to regain his father’s trust.
Rugiirwa’s fraudulent activities also affected Ugandans seeking land deals. Through Uganda Real Estate Developers (URED), a company associated with his sister’s former lover Henry Banyenzaki, he defrauded numerous individuals by promising them lucrative land deals. Many victims filed police reports against him.
Shockingly, Rugiirwa was also accused of involving his twin sister, Angella, in his illicit activities by introducing her to wealthy men. One such man was Jamaican singer Kuz KZ, who was famously involved in an altercation with staff at Chicken Tonight in Kasanga while with Angella.
As Rugiirwa attempted to maintain a lavish lifestyle without the financial means to support it, he spiraled into depression. Unable to secure loans and facing mounting debts, he turned to alcohol. His alcohol abuse resulted in numerous hospitalizations.
