Six charged over city markets bid
Jun 05, 2003
SIX directors of Hassan Basajjabalaba’s Victoria International Trading Company and Sheila Investments Ltd. were yesterday charged with using forged documents to win the tenders for the two major city markets
By Maurice Okore
SIX directors of Hassan Basajjabalaba’s Victoria International Trading Company and Sheila Investments Ltd. were yesterday charged with using forged documents to win the tenders for the two major city markets
The two markets are Nakasero and St. Balikuddembe (formerly Owino).
Victoria International and Sheila Investments, according to prosecution forged certificates of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association which they presented to Kampala City Council Tender Board.
The directors were charged before the Buganda Road Court.
Three of the directors, Asuman Irungu, 38, Aisha Mulungi, and Arinaitwe Sowedi from Victoria International which won the St. Balikuddembe market tender were charged before Emmanuel Baguma.
Buruhan Bamwine, 32, Sheila Nagitta and Odo Kateeba from Sheila investments Ltd appeared before Susan Kanyange.
They denied the charges. Both magistrates granted the accused a cash bail of sh100,000 and their twelve sureties were bonded for sh5m each. Their sureties included officials from Haba Group of Companies and Uganda Chamber of Commerce. The cases will be mentioned on June 19.
Prosecution told the court that the suspects committed the offences on June 6, 2002. Irungu signed the contract to manage St. Balikuddembe with KCC on behalf of Victoria.
Last November, KCC granted the tender to manage St. Balikuddembe market to Victoria International for sh1.248b per year amid protests from former local Government minister Jaberi Bibandi Ssali.
Bidandi, who at one time rejected the tender awards, accused Gordon Mwesigye, the Kampala Town Clerk, and secretary to the tender board of having interest in the markets.
He said Victoria and Sheila were not registered and that there had not been adequate consultations with the stall owners before awarding the tenders.
But John Ssebaana Kizito, the Kampala mayor, said KCC could not revoke the deals, citing legal consequences.
SIX directors of Hassan Basajjabalaba’s Victoria International Trading Company and Sheila Investments Ltd. were yesterday charged with using forged documents to win the tenders for the two major city markets
The two markets are Nakasero and St. Balikuddembe (formerly Owino).
Victoria International and Sheila Investments, according to prosecution forged certificates of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association which they presented to Kampala City Council Tender Board.
The directors were charged before the Buganda Road Court.
Three of the directors, Asuman Irungu, 38, Aisha Mulungi, and Arinaitwe Sowedi from Victoria International which won the St. Balikuddembe market tender were charged before Emmanuel Baguma.
Buruhan Bamwine, 32, Sheila Nagitta and Odo Kateeba from Sheila investments Ltd appeared before Susan Kanyange.
They denied the charges. Both magistrates granted the accused a cash bail of sh100,000 and their twelve sureties were bonded for sh5m each. Their sureties included officials from Haba Group of Companies and Uganda Chamber of Commerce. The cases will be mentioned on June 19.
Prosecution told the court that the suspects committed the offences on June 6, 2002. Irungu signed the contract to manage St. Balikuddembe with KCC on behalf of Victoria.
Last November, KCC granted the tender to manage St. Balikuddembe market to Victoria International for sh1.248b per year amid protests from former local Government minister Jaberi Bibandi Ssali.
Bidandi, who at one time rejected the tender awards, accused Gordon Mwesigye, the Kampala Town Clerk, and secretary to the tender board of having interest in the markets.
He said Victoria and Sheila were not registered and that there had not been adequate consultations with the stall owners before awarding the tenders.
But John Ssebaana Kizito, the Kampala mayor, said KCC could not revoke the deals, citing legal consequences.