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Daniel Lutaaya, Benson Ongom quit NBS-TV

By
Our Reporter
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Daniel Lutaaya and Benson Ongom

Television personalities Daniel Lutaaya and Benson Ongom from Next Media have thrown in the towel indicating they are leaving the station despite pleadings from senior managers including Kin Kariisa himself.

Lutaaya has been reporting news but majorly in investigations while Ongom is the lead regional reporter for the station based in northern Uganda.

Sources at the Naguru-based media house say both have refused to yield to pleas from management not to go but “It seems the package negotiated on the other side is handsome” said a source.

Reports further indicate the two have remained tightlipped on where they are headed to but sources said they could be heading to NTV.

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UPDF discovers ADF training camp in Luwero

By
Geoffery Serugo
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UPDF spokesperson Brig Felix Kulayigye

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) has discovered a training camp for Allied Democratic Force (ADF), Eagle Online has learnt. The discovered training grounds were confirmed by Brig Felix Kulaigye, the UPDF spokesperson.

“ADF training camp discovered in Luwero. The media is invited to come tomorrow 16 June 2022 and see for themselves,” Brig. Kulaigye said.

Currently, the UPDF and Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) are conducting Operation Shujaa aimed at flashing out the ADF terrorists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Since the launch of operations in November 2021, the joint forces have captured over 34 ADF terrorists, killed and injured scores of them. Last month, the DRC renewed UPDF’S contract maintaining its presence in Felix Tshekedi’s country.

The two Forces are currently engaged in road construction and rehabilitation works to facilitate and further secure the movement of soldiers and the displaced civilian population, particularly on Mbau- Kamango and Mobili axes, Kamango-Semuliki- Beni.

In November 2021, the two Forces launched joint air and artillery strikes against ADF camps. The attacking of ADF camps follows three terror attacks which claimed four lives and scores injured. According to police, the explosives occurred at Digida Pork joint in Komamboga, Lungala along Kampala Masaka Highway, Parliamentary Avenue and Kampala Central Police Station (CPS).

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WHO, Germany donate 2,800 oxygen cylinders and 48 million syringes to Uganda

By
Our Reporter
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The Ministry of Health has received an additional 2,800 oxygen cylinders and 48,172,700 syringes from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to support the continued fight against COVID-19 and other health complications in the country.

Valued at USD 688,800 for the cylinders and USD 2,862,440.8 for the syringes, the medical supplies were purchased with funding from WHO and the German Government respectively. They were handed over to the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, at a ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Wandegeya.

“The syringes and cylinders we are receiving today will help build the capacity of the emergency and vaccination departments. I welcome the continued support of WHO and the German Government in strengthening our health system,” said Dr. Aceng.

Speaking at the same function, the German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Mr. Matthias Schauer, reaffirmed his government’s readiness to Uganda in addressing the health challenges facing the country.

“The syringes provided today are intended to ensure the continuation of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and can be used to meet other vaccination needs as well. I am glad that Germany is enabling Uganda to accelerate its response to COVID-19. Global cooperation and solidarity will be our only chance to defeat the virus worldwide,” Mr. Schauer stated.

The WHO Representative to Uganda, Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, said, “WHO remains true to the commitment made at the founding of the organization more than 70 years ago and espoused in its current mission of “Promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable.” “The provision of these supplies shows our continued support to Uganda in preventing and controlling outbreaks,” he emphasized.

Dr. Tegegn also explained that the 2,800 oxygen cylinders donated, when filled with oxygen, will serve more than 850 patients each requiring 15L/min of oxygen for 24 hours. “Like any other long-lasting healthcare equipment, after the management of critical patients, the cylinders will then be made available to treatment centers to ensure the continuity of essential health services,” he added.

The provision of this equipment is an addition to other generous contributions of the German Government since the onset of the pandemic. That included donations of more than 5 million vaccine doses, support provided through WHO to strengthen the country’s response to COVID-19 case management, surveillance, and coordination, and to identify known and new variants of SARS-CoV 2 (COVID-19) in Uganda.

Since the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Uganda in March 2020, WHO, in collaboration with many partners, has continued to provide technical and financial support to improve the country’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including support for the development of the national COVID-19 response plans, the national vaccine deployment plan, and the resurgence and recovery plan.

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Three dead, 35 injured in bus collision in Bukedea

By
Our Reporter
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Two male adults and one female adult have died in a fatal road accident involving a motor vehicle registration number UAH 781Z Nissan belonging to Gateway Bus service and an Izuzu bus belonging to wanagon coaches Reg no UAR 293M.

The accident happened at Kachumbala village along Mbale-Soroti highway in Bukedea district at round 9pm last night. The Gate way bus was travelling from Soroti side, while the Wanagon bus was from Mbale side.

Traffic Police spokesperson, Faridah Nampiima, said preliminary findings indicate that the cause of the accident was by the Gateway Bus driver that tried to overtake in the corner and failed to keep  his near side hence knocking the an oncoming bus head on.

There were 35 victims of which 20 were male adults, ten female adults, four male juveniles, and one female juvenile. They were rushed to Mbale Referral Hospital and Kumi Orthopedic Center.

“The hunt for the driver of the gateway bus, who is currently in the run is on, while the Said Rashid the Wanagon bus driver was rushed to Mbale Referral Hospital for treatment,” ASP Nampiima said.

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Museveni asks MPs to budget for compulsory primary education

By
Our Reporter
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“We must budget for compulsory primary school education and stop these greedy teachers from sending children back home,” President Yoweri Museveni urged lawmakers.

This was in his address to Parliament following the presentation of the 2022/2023 financial year budget by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Matia Kasaija at the Kololo Ceremonial grounds on 14 June 2022.

“We may not do it this year but in the next financial years, we should insist on free and compulsory primary and even secondary education and stop all these fellows who are looking for money through schools,” Museveni said.

He revealed that while on a recent tour in Moroto, he discovered that the primary school completion rate is at six per cent adding that in the whole country, the primary school completion rate is at 38 per cent, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

“Children drop out of school because of school charges. It is disgusting to send children out of school because we are looking for allowances. We must say no. Let us budget and stop these greedy fellows from collecting money. This is what I wanted from 1997, but I cannot do it alone,” Museveni said.

He also called for increased budgeting for irrigation interventions saying that the problem faced by Uganda and Africa is lack of food.

“As long as Uganda is producing enough food, there is no problem we cannot solve. The danger to food is some laziness and the other is lack of rain or unreliable rain. That is why in the budget, we are putting irrigation,” he said.

He added that budgeting for improved irrigation interventions will stabilise agriculture and in the long run, avert the shortage of food.

To reclaim the wetlands, the President said that those occupying wetlands in Busoga, Bukedi and Kigezi will be removed and compensated arguing that they were misled into settling there by the British.

“In other areas, people are going against our appeal and I demand that they vacate the wetlands without negotiations. Once we bring back our water, then we shall be able to irrigate easily and have secure agriculture to be able to solve other problems,” Museveni added.

Speaking about the skyrocketing fuel prices, Museveni said that the solution is repair of the railway transport system which he said would reduce transport costs on cargo.

“In the next few years, we shall have our own petroleum but we cannot undersale it; it has to be at par with world prices minus transport,” Museveni added.

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VANTAGE LOAN SAGA: Lawyers Kirunda and Wasige were right to place Bitature’s property on auction – Justice Mubiru rules as he says he isn’t bound by a decision which was reached by mistake by another judge

By
Our Reporter
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Bitature's Skyz Hotel lined up for auction over bank loan

Justice Stephen Mubiru has ruled that lawyers Robert Kirunda and Noah Shamah Wasige, representing South African money lenders Vantage Capital, were right to place businessman Patrick Bitature’s properties on auction for defaulting a loan.

Simba Group had sued Kirunda, Wasige, Festus Kateregga, the lawyer of Quick Way Auctioneers and Court Bailiffs, and the Commissioner Land Registration saying it was illegal and an improper use of process to advertise the sale of the properties by public auction.

On Wednesday 18th May, 2022 in the daily Monitor newspaper, acting on the instructions of Vantage, their lawyers advertised for sale by public auction, multiple properties belonging to Simba Group as mortgagors in default. The properties included; “Elizabeth Apartments” at Kololo in Kampala, “Protea Hotel-Naguru (Sky’s Hotel) in Kampala, and “Moyo Close Apartments,” Kololo gardens in Kampala.

Simba Group, through their lawyers of M/s Muwema and Co. Advocates and Solicitors together with M/s. Mugisha and Co. Advocates, said Vantage was non-existent, yet the four advertised the property for sale. They said it not only occasioned severe damage to Simba Group’s names and business reputation, but also caused irreparable damage. “The advertisement was made for the sole purpose of embarrassing and irredeemably damaging the name and business reputation of the applicants,” they wrote.

The lawyers submitted that Simba Group has a pending suit which raises serous triable issues relating to the action of publishing a notice of sale. “The cause of action is a claim over unlawful intention to sell,” they said.

It all begins in December 2014 when Bitature’s Simba Properties Investment Company (SPIC) acquired a $10 million loan from Vantage of which he has “not paid back one cent” despite the loan term ending in 2019. The loan has since skyrocketed to over $32 million after accrued and compounded interest, and penalties kicked in.

In a high court ruling on May 9, 2022, Justice Musa Ssekaana declared the transaction illegal and untenable. “The applicant may indeed be a partnership in South Africa but it is not clear to this court whether it was registered or not in the same country or the same laws applicable in that country are in pari materia with the legal position in Uganda. Therefore this court will interrogate this fact to come to its finding and determination,” Justice Musa Ssekaana said halting the auction process.

However, Justice Mubiru in his ruling on June 15, 2022, said Justice Ssekaana was misled. He said the High Court is bound by decisions of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, but is not bound by other High Court decisions, declaring the auction as righful.

He said that in any event, a decision which is reached by manifest slip, error or glaring mistake, such that some part of the decision or some step in the reasoning on which it is based is found, on that account, to be demonstrably wrong, can be avoided.

“On the basis of the misconception of the non-existence of the mortgagee, the 1st and 3rd respondents (lawyers and auction firm) have been sued simply because counsel for the applicants consider them to be acting in their individual capacities since, in counsel’s view, M/s Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership was in High Court Miscellaneous Cause No. 205 of 2022 declared no-existent. Firstly, a person who acts for a disclosed principal is not liable to the plaintiff in respect of particular transactions (see Friendship Container Manufacturers Ltd v. Mitchell Cotts (K) Ltd [2001] 2 EA 338),” Justice Mubiru said in his ruling.

He added “A person who acts as another’s agents in a transaction, with the knowledge of the plaintiff, is not liable to the plaintiff in respect of that particular transaction. In undertaking the impugned advertisement, the 1st to 3rd respondents acted as agents of M/s Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership with instruction to enforce its rights as an unpaid mortgagee under the Mezzanine Term facility Agreement, which agreement specifies the corporate and human partners undertaking business under that name. At common law, in such circumstances the only person who can sue and be sued is the principal.”

Mubiru said abuse of process is described as misusing a criminal or civil process against another party for an unintended, malicious, or perverse reason or purpose, different from the proceeding’s intended purposes, which wasn’t the case.

“It is the malicious and deliberate misuse of regularly issued civil or criminal court process that is not justified by the underlying legal action. It involves an illegal or improper use of process, with an ulterior motive or improper purpose. There is no exhaustive list of situations where a court might stay a proceeding for an abuse of process, but includes litigation instituted in bad faith with the intention of delaying the delivery of justice.”

“Sometimes abuse of process may occur accidentally, such as where an honest belief in mistaken facts forms the basis of filing a suit against an improper party. Having analysed pleadings filed and arguments advanced by counsel for the applicants in previous and current litigation over the same subject matter, as well as their answer filed in response to the invitation to arbitration, it appears to me that the applicants are labouring under an honest but mistaken belief that it was decided by the Civil Division of this Court in High Court that M/s Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership does not exist.”

“On basis of all the foregoing considerations, I found that this application and the underlying suit were entirely misconceived on account of the fact that they were instituted against agents of a known principal, and on ground that the matters placed in issue in the suit are already the subject of a subsisting arbitral process. This court had on two occasions before already declared that it will not exercise jurisdiction over the matter in light of the submission to arbitration that is valid, binding, operative and enforceable. I found it unnecessary in the circumstances to consider the rest of the criteria for the grant of a temporary injunction.”

“Having found that that this specific factual finding of my brother Judge is not evidence-based, and more so, it is not entitled to deference as a precedent binding on this court, I respectfully depart from it and find that there was no basis for counsel for the applicants to have chosen to file a suit intended to enforce what they considered to be a declaratory decision in that ruling,” Justice Mubiru ruled.

“In the result, I found that a prima facie case had not been established. There were no serious questions of law and fact to be tried by this court to justify the grant of a temporary injunction. The application was thus dismissed with costs to the respondents and the underlying suit was struck out with costs to the defendants.”

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2022/23 Budget Speech key highlights

By
Simon Kabayo
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Matia Kasaija

The Government of Uganda has released a Shs48.1 trillion National Budget for the Financial Year 2022/2023 which is based on restoring economic activity to the pre-pandemic levels, and accelerating the pace of socio-economic transformation.

The budget was presented under the Theme: Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation and Market Access. 

Delivering the Budget Speech at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Tuesday, 14 June 2022, Finance minister Matia Kasaija insisted that despite revenue shortfalls, the government is not introducing new taxes but will instead focus mitigation of the COVID-19 impact on business activity, livelihoods and the overall economy.

“Madam Speaker, the Budget Strategy for the Financial Year 2022/23 and over the medium term seeks to restore economic activity to the pre-pandemic levels, and subsequently accelerate the pace of socio-economic transformation,” he said.

The minister also said the government will focus on enhanced fiscal discipline to limit supplementary expenditure to within the 3 percent provided for under the law.

While Security, Education and Health have still remained some of the biggest beneficiaries, the Government has earmarked a total of Shs1.711 billion as wealth creation funds through various programmes.

The main vehicle for improving household incomes (wealth creation) in the 2022/2023 national budget is the Parish Development Model (PDM), which has been allocated Shs1.059 trillion.

“Madam Speaker, next financial year, I have provided a total of Shs 1.059 trillion for full implementation of the Model. Each of the 10,594 Parishes in the country will receive Shs100 million as a revolving fund, earmarked for purchase of agricultural inputs by households still in subsistence,” Kasaija said.

“Madam Speaker, the Parish Development Model will be complemented by other Government programmes such as the Emyooga Fund; the Microfinance Support Centre credit to other SACCOs and Village Savings Groups; the Small Business Recovery Fund; and other wealth creation initiatives,” he added.

A total of Shs 3.987 trillion has been provided for improvement of security and security infrastructure. This will enhance surveillance and improve crime detection. The first Phase of the CCTV camera project was successfully implemented with the installation of over 3,000 cameras country wide.

“Shs3.987 Trillion has been provided in the Financial Year 2022/23 Budget for the improvement of security and security infrastructure. This includes maintenance and installation of new CCTV cameras across the country,” Kasaija said.

Government has allocated a total of Shs3.722 trillion for healthcare delivery in Financial Year 2022/20223. This will, among others, go towards rehabilitation and expansion of the following general hospitals; Itojo, Kaabong, Abim, Kambuga, Masindi, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Bugiri and Amudat.

Government has also allocated Shs1.027 trillion towards the water and environment sub-programme, with priority given to constructing 80 kilometres water supply infrastructure from River Nile to serve 484,000 people in Acholi and Lango sub-regions; constructing Water Infrastructure from River Kagera to serve an additional 75,000 people in Isingiro, Mbarara and Masaka sub-regions and the Wakiso West Water and Sanitation Project.

Others are the rehabilitation and expansion of Mbale Water Supply Scheme; and construction of the Wastewater Treatment Plant targeting Kiruddu Hospital.

Government also allocated Shs 4.14 trillion towards the education and skilling sub-programmes. Most will go towards completion of construction, upgrading and equipping of Vocational Education Centres of Excellence in Bushenyi, Lira, and Elgon technical institutions.

Government has also allocated Shs 4.3 trillion next financial year for transport infrastructure development and maintenance. This will go towards construction of 400 kilometres equivalent of roads to bitumen standards; rehabilitation/reconstruction of 200 kilometres equivalent, and construction of 30 bridges on the National roads network.

For power infrastructure, the government has provided Shs 1.573 trillion to ensure the unit-by-unit commissioning of the 600 megawatts Karuma Hydro Plant in September 2022, with the plant being fully available in June 2023.

The other will go towards completing the Opuyo-Moroto, Lira-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua, Lira-Gulu-Agago and the Mutundwe – Entebbe 132kV transmission lines.

It will also go towards commencing feasibility and design studies for the 400kv Uganda – South Sudan transmission line between Olwiyo – Nimule -Juba; the 400kV Uganda – Democratic Republic of the Congo interconnection and the 400KV Uganda – Tanzania transmission line.

To enhance the Decentralisation Policy, a total of Shs5.1 trillion has been provided as direct financing to Local Governments. This will go towards automation of Government business and service delivery. This includes e-Procurement, the Parish Model Management Information System, Government Asset Management, Education Information Management, and Electronic Document Management.

Government has also allocated Shs 1.449 trillion to promote agro-industrialisation, standards and market entry. This will include expanding storage and processing capacity for agricultural commodities within the 18 zones of the country; enhancing the use of the Warehouse Receipt System to improve commodity storage, reduce post-harvest losses, improve value chain management, and increase income to farmers.

Others are providing funds for private sector investment in key commodity agro-processing value chains through soft and patient debt from UDB, and equity from UDC.

A total of Shs. 628 billion in the next Financial Year 2022/23 has been allocated for actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

“Madam Speaker, 850 square kilometers of wetlands and forests will also be restored by having them demarcated and gazetting, and evicting all encroachers,” Kasaija said.

Government has also allocated Shs 564.39 billion to increase production and productivity through the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries.

The key interventions will include development of key commodities value chains that have a high impact on transforming the 39 per cent of households in subsistence into the money economy. These include coffee, beef and dairy cattle, poultry, fish, piggery, fruits, and food crops for intensive farming. The rest of the enterprises including cassava, bananas, rice, Irish potatoes, millet, cotton, tea, cashew-nuts, among others, will also be supported but for relatively big farmers.

The other is expansion of irrigation schemes and providing community and individual on-farm water for production to minimise reliance on rain-fed agriculture; and ensuring sustained agricultural production.

The other is enhancement of research, breeding and appropriate technology development through the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB) and the National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO);

Also investment in, and effective regulation of production, multiplication and certification of quality agricultural inputs including seeds, seedlings, stocking materials, and fertilizers, will be done.

The government has also allocated Shs194.7 billion to support the recovery of the tourism sector.

A total of Shs. 904.1 billion has been allocated towards the development and commercialization of minerals, oil and gas.

Shs. 274.4 billion has been allocated towards advancing innovation and technological development in this country.

Of the Shs48,130.7 trillion, domestic revenue amounts to Shs30.797.3 trillion of which Shs23.754.9 trillion will be tax revenue and Shs1.795.9 trillion will be Non-Tax Revenue.

Domestic borrowing amounts to Shs5.007.9 trillion. Budget Support accounts for Shs2.609.2 trillion. External financing for projects amounts to Shs.6, 716 trillion of which Shs4,625.7 trillion is from loans, and Shs2,090.5 trillion is from grants.

Domestic Debt Refinancing will amount to Shs8, 008.0 trillion.

According to Kasaija, the size of our economy is projected to expand to Shs162.1 trillion for the financial year ending 30th June 2022. This is equivalent to US Dollars 45.7 billion.The Government of Uganda has released a Shs48.1 trillion National Budget for the Financial Year 2022/2023 which is based on restoring economic activity to the pre-pandemic levels, and accelerating the pace of socio-economic transformation.

Full Speech:

FY 2022-23 Budget Speech_FinalCompleteDownload
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UN’s WFP suspends food assistance to South Sudan citing shortage of funds

By
Simon Kabayo
-

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced the suspension of food assistance to almost a third of “acutely” food insecure people in South Sudan over “critical funding shortages”.

The decision, WFP said in a statement, means that the 1.7 million people it planned to support this year will starve owing to the lack of humanitarian food assistance.

“The suspension of aid comes at the worst possible time for the people of South Sudan as the country faces a year of unprecedented hunger,” the agency said.

According to WFP, over 60% of the population is grappling with severe food insecurity during the lean season, fuelled by continuing conflict, severe flooding, localized drought, and soaring food prices exacerbated by the crisis in Ukraine.

“We are extremely concerned about the impact of the funding cuts on children, women and men who will not have enough to eat during the lean season. These families have completely exhausted their coping strategies. They need immediate humanitarian assistance to put food on the table in the short-term and to rebuild their livelihoods and resilience to cope with future shocks,” explained Adeyinka Badejo, the Acting Country Director of the WFP in South Sudan.

He added that humanitarian needs are far exceeding the funding they have received this year and that this continues, they will face bigger and more costly problems in the future, including increased mortality, malnutrition, stunting and diseases.

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment warned that 7.74 million people will face severe acute hunger at the height of the lean season between June and August, while 1.4 million children will be acutely malnourished.

WFP, however, said it exhausted all options before suspending food assistance, including halving rations in 2021, leaving families in need with less food to eat.

“These latest reductions to assistance will also impact 178,000 schoolchildren who will no longer receive daily school meals – a crucial safety net that helps keep South Sudanese children in school to learn and grow,” stressed the statement.

More drastic reductions, according to the humanitarian agency, would be unavoidable, unless more funding is received, which will leave vulnerable people unable to meet their basic food needs and reverting to survival strategies such as skipping or reducing meals, selling assets, using child labour and child marriage.

Meanwhile, WFP said it requires $426 million to reach 6 million food insecure people in South Sudan this year.

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Besigye arrested again for protesting skyrocketing prices of commodities

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Besigye

The former presidential Candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has been arrested again for protesting the skyrocketing prices of commodities in the country.

He was arrested and detained at Central Police Station (CPS) after resurfacing downtown earlier in the afternoon.

Besigye was mobilizing the Ugandans to stand out and task President Yoweri Museveni to make thorough explanations when he had not done anything about the shooting prices of commodities.

“Stand out they can’t imprison all us and when they take up to prisons, they will release us but we can’t allow this to continue,” he said adding that, “Museveni advises us to eat cassava yet he is doing the opposite.”

He accused Museveni of asking for supplementary budgets and leaving Ugandans to longish in poverty.

This is the second time in three weeks Besigye has been arrested for protesting the high commodity prices in Kampala. On May 24, he was arrested and remanded to Luzira prsion on May 25 after declining to pay Shs 30 million cash.

However on June 6th, Justice Micheal Elubu reduced the amount from Shs 30 million to only Shs 3 million and was released on bail until today.

Mr. Matia Kasaija, the Minister for Finance Planning and Economic Development has since linked the skyrocketing price of commodities to high prices of fuel and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Currently, most of the prices of essential commodities in the country have doubled.

Dating from 2011, Besigye has spearheaded various protests in the country. Following his defeat in the 2011 presidential elections, he led the famous walk to walk campaign protesting the high prices of food and fuel.

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MP, KCCA Councillor in Court over Shs2bn custodian board land

By
Our Reporter
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Custodian Board secreatry George William Bizibu (right) and his chief accountant were arrested for solicitng bribe

A family of four has dragged Workers’ MP Abdulhu Byakatonda and a senior Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) official, Micdad Muganga to court seeking payment of Shs 2 billion resulting from a botched land deal.

Court documents indicate that family members paid the money for the land through the Departed Asians Properties Custodian Board (DAPCB) employees but later found out it was registered in other people’s name.

Asuman Nkambwe, his sons Meddie Nkambwe and Mansul Mbazira, and his wife Jane Nambooze sued the two and DAPCB in the Land Division of the High Court in Kampala.

Appearing before the deputy registrar Janeva Natukunda, the lawyer representing the family, Ramadhan Waiswa, said he served Byakatonda, who responded to the allegations but efforts to serve Muganga were futile. This prompted Waiswa to serve Muganga through a local newspaper after the court allowed his application for substituted service.

The family want court to compel Byakatonda, Muganga and DAPCB to give them the properties free of any encumbrance or third party claims.

The family want the trio to refund money they paid for the plots of land amounting to SHs 2 billion with interest at 21% from the time they received the money until payment in full.

They also demand that the trio pay them Shs1.5b in aggravated damages for the pain, loss and suffering caused to them and an interest of 21% plus costs of the suit.

Court documents indicate that in 2019, the family were informed by their then lawyer Nathan Mpenje that the DAPCB had three plots available for sale after carrying out due diligence.

The properties are Plot 34 LRV 146 Folio 10 on Rashid Khamis Road, Plot 23v LRV 117 Folio 8 and 37 Martin Road LRV 116 Folio 17.

According to court documents, the properties were developed with buildings and that although they had been expropriated during the 1970s and vested in the government, their former bosses had not legally repossessed them within the time limited by the law.

Consequently, the family, on July 31, 2019, applied to the DAPCB divestiture committee for allocation and purchase of the plots. The family says they mainly dealt with Byakatonda, the then board chairperson and Muganga the board’s agent.

“In January 2021, the family sought vacant possession from the occupants of the plots, but they did not have knowledge of any transactions,” court documents read.

They then demanded vacant possession of the plots in a series of meetings held with the custodian board members in January last year to no avail.

The family claim that they were informed by Byakatonda and Muganga that the needed to pay fresh fees to be able to receive the formal offer and they paid another Shs150m, the money they borrowed from one John Kinaalwa.

The family say they later leant that Plot 23 Martin Rd is being claimed in court by a one Nanji Valji’s administrator who purports that the plot is part of their estate and they have a repossession certificate issued by the finance minister in 1995.

They also discovered that plot 34 Rashid Khamis Rd has a title and John Katonya is the registered proprietor while plot 37 martin Rd is not available.

In April last year, the DAPCB offered plot 18 LRV 188 Folio 25 Benedicto Kiwanuka Rd to Asuman Nkambwe in exchange for plot 37 martin Rd which they claimed was no longer available for purchase.

Last week, the Executive Secretary of Departed Asian Custodian Board George William Bizibu and his chief accountant were arrested for extorting money based on forged documents and asking of bribe from various people to allocate them property.

“@AntiGraft_SH in liaison with @PoliceUg have arrested both the Executive Secretary & the Accountant of the departed Asian property custodian board for falsely obtaining money from various persons while purporting to allocate them properties. #ExposeTheCorrupt,” State House Anti-corruption unit tweeted.

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