Obote Foundation to evict Akena from Uganda House

Aug 23, 2015

MILTON Obote Foundation the biggest funders of UPC party has vowed to take all legal means so that party president Jimmy Akena and his faction are evicted

By Jeff Andrew Lule

 

MILTON Obote Foundation (MOF) the biggest funders of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has vowed to take all legal means to make sure that the party president Jimmy Akena and his faction are evicted from the party offices.

 

The foundation’s chairman, Nelson Ofwono said they have written to Police and other responsible authorities over the matter but no response has been received.

 

“We wrote to police but we see the same police siding with the Akena. Now we have filed a case in court to make sure this is solved. We need responsible authorities and well-wishers to help in solving this impasse in the party to allow work go on normally at Uganda House,” he said.

 

Speaking to New Vision at Uganda House on Saturday, Ofwono insisted that as MOF they cannot deal with Akena because his leadership is still contested. 

 

Ofwono last week accused Akena of interfering in MOF’s affairs, following a resolution passed by Akena's faction during their national council meeting, calling for disciplinary action against some members of the foundation.

 

However, Akena said those summoned, are party members and were called in their individual capacity as party members, not as MOF members.

 

Akena said all party members irrespective of their decision, are supposed to follow the party constitution and rules set by the national council.

 

Regarding his legality as a UPC leader, Akena said it is not a matter of MOF to decide.

 

Ofwono explained that Akena’s faction has caused MOF loses as tenants continue to leave Uganda House because of the inconvenience at hand.

 

He also noted that there is no way they can fund the party activities when the entire institution is messy. 

 

He stated that the relationship between MOF and UPC is only a collaborative one based on the fact that they were both founded by same individuals with similar ideals for the development of Uganda.

 

“We fund them depending on the resources; we being a private business entity. We do not have a specific amount that we are supposed to give the party annually,” Ofwono added.

 

He said they have decided to drag Akena and his faction to court for occupying the premises illegally, which has affected their business. He said the suit was filed through Kigozi, Ssempala, Mukasa & Obonyo (KSMO) advocates last week.

 

Akena was dragged to court together with Betty Amongi (Apac district woman MP), Maxwell Akora (Maruzi County MP), and Kole County MP, Fred Ebil among others.

 

The management is seeking a court declaration that the UPC group is a trespasser on the suit land comprised in LRV 689, Folio 1, plot 8 and volume 682, Folio 12, plot 10, Kampala Road, popularly known as Uganda House.

 

They contend that the forceful, illegal and acrimonious grabbing of and taking possession of the said premises have caused tortuous economic interferences with their business and that of other tenants.

 

The management also seeks a declaration that by lodging in Uganda House that was designed as office space, the UPC group have illegally changed the user of the suit premises contrary to the implied terms of the tenancy agreement between them and the intended beneficiaries.

 

It also seeks an order for payment of sh21m as special damages for money expended on the premises to enhance the security and preempt the threat posed by the UPC group due to their conflicts.  

 

They therefore seek a permanent injunction against the UPC faction, restraining them from unlawfully assuming the right to possession of the suit property. They also seek payment of sh105m per month or sh3m for every other day that the group remains in occupation of the premises since June 5, 2015, general and exemplary damages for the loss and inconveniences caused by the group.   

 

MOF Ltd contends that it owns 99.80% shares in Uganda House Investment Ltd and it is also the registered proprietor of the land in question, trading under the name and style of Uganda House.  

 

According to court documents, on June 1, 2015 the management got information that a group of people had planned to storm the suit land and interfere with their business and that of their tenants, prompting it to write to the police seeking for pre-emptive remedy.

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