We have been reliably informed that Hajji Basajjabalaba has bought five timber houses in Ndeeba and officially joined the business.

The business tycoon has now recruited his family members and cousins to run his timber business on his behalf. In fact Basajjabalaba has a lot of money. He has even bought off the land on which the five timber stores are seated.

If history remains constant, you will soon hear that conflicts have erupted at timber stores in Ndeeba. You see wherever Basajjabalaba goes, conflicts follow him. When he was managing Nakasero and Owino markets, his administration was characterised by wrangles.

By Christine Kate

The post Hassan Basajjabalaba joins timber business first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Bank of Uganda  Governor Tumusiime Mutebile told the public accounts committee that much as the then finance Syda Bbumba assured him that his money would be paid back, the matter continues to a subject of fists between the central bank and finance ministry.

He says the bank is now in losses on its account because the two entities have not finalized on who will pay, adding that the new minister for finance (Maria Kiwanuka) has however asked him to wait  to allow negotiations.

Mutebile says that the central bank has already paid out shs120 billion (USD26m) to various city banks to which he gave letters of comfort (guarantees) to give Basajjabala loans; on understanding that the ministry of finance was going to pay this money and that talks are ongoing between Bank of Uganda  and these banks regarding the balance of US$20m.

He explained that he gave the guarantees to those banks including Tropical bank, UBA, Orient and bank of Baroda after then finance minister Syda Bbumba assured him that Basajjabalaba was owed by the government 142 billion shillings and that this money was to be paid back after parliamentary approval.

He said they sought his assistance to help Basajjabalaba to secure loans which he offered.
By isaac Senabulya

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Bbumba appeared before the committee to explain her role in sanctioning the monies over 140 billion shillings claim to Basajjabalaba for cancellation of contracts to run Nakasero and Owino markets, as well as Constitutional Square.

Bbumba is said to have sanctioned the payments despite of advice from the Auditor General’s office against it.

The legislators accused the minister of disregarding President Yoweri Museveni’s letter dated 17^th May 2011, which described as scandalous and unacceptable.

MP Gerald Kruhanga said it was unwise for Bbumba to sanction the payment yet a day earlier, the Auditor General’s office had instituted a special investigation into the monies.

Maxwell Okora further said the President’s letter, questioning the claims to Basajjabalaba should have been taken into account and the payments scrutinized further.

Ultimate Media

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The committee Chaired by Patrick Amuriat got to learnt this while meeting the chairman Uganda land commission Joshua Mayanja Nkangi.

Nkangi told the committee that Kampala International University is part of the beneficiaries of Nsambya Railways land and it has been given 20 acres on this land out the entire land of 57 acres.

However, the MPS noted that Kampala Inter national university got the land under un clear circumstances because it was not part of the group that got the land under the presidential and cabinet directive the uganda land commission.

The Member of Parliament for Kyotera County in Rakai district Huruna Kyeyune said that CID must investigate how kampala international university which belongs to Hassan Bassajjabalaba acquired this land.

According to the letters under the committee’s custody Kampala International university transferred the land into its possession in April 2011 after demanding for the land in September 2010.

The minister of state for privatization Aston Kajara also told the committee that he does not know how KIU got Nsambya Railways land because its not part of the Naguru –Nakawa estates  group which is part of the beneficiaries of this land.

The MPS also noted that part of the plots on Nsmbya railways land was sold at only 600 million shillings instead of 1.2 billion shillings per acre as reserved price which had been set by government.

The post Basajjabalaba cited in Nsambya Railway land first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Ismail Nkonge 35, a journalist with Dembe FM is the second witness after Henry Mukasa senior reporter with the government owned news paper the New Vision who testified against Hajji Basajjabalaba.

Nkonge told the court that he saw Hajji Basajjabalaba trouncing on Kintu after taking his picture. “He slapped and boxed him in the face several times. Afterwards Kintu came where we were while bleeding. We took him to police where he recorded a statement,” narrated Nkonge.

Prosecution alleges that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu on 6th/September/2010during the National Resistance Movement-Organization (NRM-O) delegate’s conference which was at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

In the same meeting Basajjabalaba was elected the chairperson of the Entrepreneurs league National Resistance Movement Organization is the Uganda’s ruling party.

Although the case has entered a second day of hearing but it’s likely not to reach its final conclusion due to a possible settlement of out of court whose move is being championed by the presiding magistrate Evan Faith Palodi.

“This is a small case which can be settled out of court like I have done to other ten case files of this nature. Fighting or quarrel is part of us because we are all human beings. Why should you (Arthur Kintu) take it as a big case. How many of you here in the court room that do not fight or quarrel,” Grade One magistrate Evan Faith Palodi asked.

Kintu and Basajjabalaba however consented to a settlement of out of court when the magistrate asked them. They agreed to meet over lunch in the presiding magistrate chambers and forge a possibility of settling the case out of court before a third witness (police surgeon) is called summoned to appear before court.

The way forward of the case will determined after the meeting. Basajjabala has apologised for assaulting the Journalist but it is not clear whether Kintu has dropped the charges.

By Isaac Senabulya

The post More witnesses pin Basajjabala on assaulting Journalist first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Grade I magistrate Faith Evans Palodi has issued the warrant that remains inactive and shall be implemented if Basajjabalaba fails to turn up in court tomorrow.

His lawyer Denis Byaruhanga earlier informed court that Basajjabalaba is interested in settling the matter out of court.

The lawyer first informed court that Basajjabalaba was misinformed that the matter had been fixed for tomorrow.

The magistrate however warned the lawyer to stop lying to court, and asked to accept to be arrested to face charges of contempt of court if his client (Basajjabalaba) fails to show up tomorrow.

The magistrate has said hearing of the matter should begin tomorrow, in case an out of court settlement fails.

Prosecution alleges that last September Basajjabalaba assaulted Arthur Kintu, a local journalist who was taking his pictures during the NRM party primaries at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

Basajjabalaba was a candidate.

It is alleged that when Kintu took photographs of Basajjabalaba giving out money to voters, he (Basajjabalaba) punched him in the face causing him actual bodily harm.

Ultimate Media

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The land in question is on 5 hectares located in Kabalagala Central.

The youths led by one Toney Buwande claim that the said land was given to them by the government in 1996.

Buwande who is the chairman for the Kampala Youth Association says Kayondo sold off their land to city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba for development without their consent.

Kayondo was yesterday beaten seriously when he barred the youths from stepping a foot on their land saying it was an order from KCCA to sell off the land for development.

Buwande tells RS that KCCA has no authority over their land and that they are going to look for a developer themselves.

The association has laid a foundation to fence off any encroachers on their land.

The post LC 1 chairman survives lynching over Hassan basajjabalaba first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Grade 1 Magistrate Faith Ecans Palodi has issued the threats following Basajjabalaba’s continued failure to show up in court.

Prosecution alleges that in September last year; Basajjabalaba assaulted a local journalist Arthur Kintu during the NRM delegates conference at Namboole stadium and injured him.

It is alleged that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu when he took photograohs of the tycoon giving out bundles of 50,000 shs notes to voters as they cherred him.

Basajjabalaba is said to have slapped and punched the journalist in the face, thereby injuring him.

Late last year, the same court had dismissed the matter and advised the prosecution to reinstate the charges when it is done with its investigations.

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