City businessman sues NRM party for non-payment

By Hillary Nsambu 

KAMPALA businessman and NRM national treasurer Arvind Patel has sued the party seeking to recover over sh5.4b which he allegedly used facilitating the party activities including cleaning up the party register.

Patel through Muweman, Mugerwa Advocates, filed the case in the Commercial Court on August 29, 2014 seeking to be paid a total of sh5.440b plus interest at bank rate of 26%. He also seeks to be paid damages plus costs of the suit.

The court also issued summons for the NRM party to file a defence within 15 days once it receive the summons for the defence.

“Should you fail to file a defence on or before the prescribed time, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgment may be given in your absence,” the summons issued by the registrar on September 1, 2014reads.  

Patel, in his plaint, alleged that he had hitherto been the NRM party’s national treasurer entrepreneurs’ league by virtue of which position helped to mobilise funds for the NRM party over the years.

He further alleges that sometime between February and July 2010 some officials of the NRM political party Lenina Kemigisha Rukikaire and Frank Katusiime, who were tasked with the computerization and clean-up register approached him with the knowledge of the NRM party to source for short time finances to facilitate the party register exercise.

Patel further asserts that he raised funds for the NRM party to facilitate its register exercise and the sum owing and acknowledged by its officials as at August 16, 2014totaled to sh5.440b.

The plaintiff also alleged in his plaint that he had on several occasions met with NRM party’s high-ranking officials demanding for payment. However, despite repeated promises no payment has been forthcoming.

Patel further alleged that due to failure or refusal to re-reimburse his money by the party his business and operations have suffered several losses and damage to the extent that his assets and property are facing foreclosure, liquidation by creditors.

He also alleged that he has suffered mental anguish and pain for which he would ask court to award him general damages.