The mps on the committee were   stunned by the revelations made by the former Chief Government valuer regarding the huge sums of money Government paid out to Basajjabalaba in compensation for the city markets.

Appearing before the committee chaired by Terego county Mp Kasiano Wadri, Bwiragura says the initial amount of money he had approved for payment to Basajjabalaba after he lost business in the markets was 22billion shillings, which was raised to 142.6bn by the Inter ministerial committee, a figure that the businessman agreed with.

Bwiragura however says he was shocked when he learnt that the businessman went round him to the Attorney General Kiddu Makubuya who he deceived and endorsed a payment by writing to the President, who equally endorsed it.

Committee Member and Mbale Municipality MP Jack Wamai Wamanga says they have had to summon the former valuer because the money paid out to Basajjabalaba is way too high.

He also notes that Bwiragura resigned after he discovered that the government was to pay out huge sums of money for the markets of Owino and Kisekka contrary to what had been approved.

Wamai also notes that this meant that the other payments were made without the recommendation of the Government chief valuer, which contravened the law.

The committee is now set to summon the former attorney general Kiddu Makubuya to explain the circumstances under which the compensation rose to such an amount.

Ultimate Media

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Arthur Kintu a photo journalist with the government owned paper the New Vision who is the main complainant and Henry Mukasa a senior reporter at the same news  paper testified against Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba in a court session presided over Grade One magistrate Evan Faith Palodi.

Basajjabalaba was first charged with two counts of assault and malicious damage to property in September 2010 and dismissed on grounds of failure by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to finalize investigations. The case was also dismissed without physical appearance of Basajjabalaba before court to take a plea.

The case was early this year reinstated after Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) petitioned the former High Court Principle  Justice James Ogoola for intervention.

Prosecution alleges that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu on 6th/September/2010 during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates conference which was at Mandela national Stadium, Namboole.

Kintu in his evidence before court said Basajjabalaba trounced on him after Kintu taking his picture. “I was tipped off by my colleague that Basajjabalaba had won the position of the NRM’s Entrepreneurship league chairman and I went to take his photo. After taking his picture he advanced towards me and grabbed my camera by the lens,”  Kintu said.

“Basajjabalaba asked who has given you permission but I replied that I was a journalist from the New Vision and produced my Identity card.”

Kintu added that Basajjabalaba tried to snatch his camera but he held on it which resulted into, slapping in the face and boxing his lips by Basajjabalaba.

Henry Mukasa who is a second witness said he was in a distance of around five meters when he saw Kintu being boxed in the face which caused bleeding on his lips.

By Isaac Senabulya

The post Arthur Kintu suit against Hassan Basajjabala kicks off first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.