Chamber of commerce, agent in sh349m commission rift

By Andante Okanya

The Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry(UNCCI) is locked in a sh349m rift with a  commission agent, with the latter claiming he is owed the money as balance for connecting the former to a businessman in purchase of a $3m(sh7.7b) city property.

On May 9, Livingstone Luwaga filed a civil suit at the High Court in Kampala, claiming UNCCI owes him the money after verbally agreeing  last year in April to pay him 5% commission.

He states that it was agreed that he be paid $155,000(sh401m) but that he has todate received only $20,000(sh51.8m). He is demanding a 23% interest on the sh349m, from the date of filing the case till full payment.

Through Muwema and Mugerwa Advocates, Luwaga contends that the  refusal to pay the balance has caused him stress, as it has put him in financial difficulty. He is demanding damages plus costs for the suit.

Luwaga says UNCCI orally contracted him to procure a buyer for the property on plots 5,7 and 9 located at Nakivubo place.

Court documents show that Luwaga  using his vast  business connections, Luwaga presented two potential buyers, businessmen Patrick Kuteesa and John Bosco Muwonge. Subsequently, Kuteesa was selected as the buyer but since he was unable to, the property was purchased by Muwonge.

"The plaintiff shall at the trial aver and contend that he is the one who introduced the purchaser, having known him as a businessman dealing in real estate," Luwaga states.

Court has asked UNCCI to file its defence within 15 days. In the summons signed by registrar Eudes Keitirima dated May 9, 2013, the chamber has been cautioned to heed, lest judgement is issued in its absence.

The case file has been allocated  to Justice Benjamin Kabiito. However, a hearing date is yet to be scheduled.