Gaaga boss accounts frozen over UN report

Sep 06, 2011

THE owner of Gaaga Bus Company, James Nyakuni, has petitioned the High Court in Kampala to intervene following a Bank of Uganda directive to freeze his three accounts over a damning UN Congo report.

THE owner of Gaaga Bus Company, James Nyakuni, has petitioned the High Court in Kampala to intervene following a Bank of Uganda directive to freeze his three accounts over a damning UN Congo report.

Nyakuni filed an application for judicial review through Alaka and Company Advocates on September 1, after his accounts were frozen at dfcu bank, Stanbic Bank, and Ecobank. He wants them unfrozen, saying his business is being constrained.

Judicial review is conducted by the High Court in relation to proceedings plus decisions taken by subordinate courts and inferior tribunals.

The application was filed by Nyakuni and his company, Gaaga Enterprises Limited. It is against the Attorney General and Bank of Uganda.

According to the 2004 UN report, Nyakuni allegedly had an arms trade partnership with Gen. Jerome Kakwavu, the former commander in chief of Congolese rebel outfit, Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo.

The report is in relation to resolution 1533 of 2004 dated July 15, 2004.

Kakwavu, whose rebel group was integrated in the national army, is facing prosecution for allegedly raping young girls during the revolt.

Nyakuni wants court to issue an order prohibiting the Government from implementing a UN Security Council resolution 1596 (2005), saying it is tainted with illegality and is unfair.

“I was never given an opportunity to be heard before I was targeted,” Nyakuni contends in his affidavit.

In the report prepared by a Group of Experts in Congo on behalf of the UN Security Council, UN asked the Government to freeze Nyakuni’s assets and slap a travel ban on him pending investigations into the matter.

The UN reiterated its stance on the initial resolution, through resolution 1952 (2010). The latest stance was updated on July 8 this year.

Gaagaa buses ply the north-western route from Kampala to Arua and Nebbi, which borders with Congo. The buses also ply the Kampala-Burundi road and the Kampala-Kigali (Rwanda) route.

Nyakuni stated that on August 18, he attempted to withdraw money from his account at dfcu bank head office on Jinja Road, but was denied access without any reason or notice.

He said he was also denied access to his accounts three days later when he attempted to withdraw sh5m from the dfcu bank Lugogo branch.

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