Police intervene in Nyondo pub boss' wealth wrangles

By Joseph Mutebi

The Police have intervened in the property wrangles of the famous Nyondo pub boss, Vincent Kasumba whose wife was hounded out of his businesses by relatives since he went into coma eight months ago.

The intervention of Kampala metropolitan police commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi followed pleas from Kasumba’s beleaguered wife, Esther Kawooya, to internal affairs minister Aronda Nyakayirima.
 

The story

Kawooya says her husband, who owns several businesses, including the famous Nyondo pub in Najjanankumbi and other buildings in Kampala and Masaka, was diagnosed with a tumour in May 2013.
 

She says her in-laws have since then hounded her out of all her husband’s businesses and even blocked her from going to Mulago hospital where Kasumba is bedridden.
 

“I have been with Kasumba since 2000 and in 2005 I introduced him to my father, Moses Kawoya of Namasuba in Kikajjo. But because of my in-laws’ greed, they hired a lawyer, Isaac Walukagga, who got a court injunction blocking me from accessing any of my husband’s businesses and buildings yet I am the legally recognized wife; others only have children with him,” Esther told Kaweesi.
 

true

Zaina Muwonge shows Kaweesi a photo of Kasumba and Esther's wedding. proof that she is the legally married wife

The troubled Kawooya who now moves with a walking stick also hints at an attempt on her life. “On Independence day of 2013 I was coming from Entebbe in my Volkswagen when someone rammed into me at Bwebajja. My car was completely destroyed and I even use a walking stick now. I believe it was an attempt to finish me off,” she said.
 

Topisita Nabbaale, a businesswoman and auntie to Kasumba says: I brought Joseph Kiyimba – a brother to Kasumba and proprietor of Ambiance discothèque in Masaka – to Kampala and when he made money he too brought his brother. Kasumba has always sought advice in whatever he did.
 

When he was diagnosed with a brain tumour at Case hospital I bought them tickets to take him to hospital. Kasumba clearly told his wife Esther and Zalwango his sister to run his businesses but the family turned against her.
 

What hurts me is that Esther was thrown out of the husband’s businesses and yet when Kasumba was out of the country the sisters took sh20m daily claiming it was for treatment which is unbelievable.
 

The lawyer speaks

Tycoon Kiyimba and his relatives approached me in October 2013 accusing Ether of running down their brother’s businesses. Because I was not aware that Esther was legally married to Kasumba yet I had known the affairs of the family for close to 10 years I advised them to get powers of attorney giving them authority to run Kasumba’s businesses.
 

true

A policewoman restrains Kasumba's mother during a stormy family meeting. Kasumba's relatives are accused of blocking the Nyondo pub boss' wife from his businesses

They held a family meeting that was attended by 12 people. They picked three people; Maria, Zalwango and Martin, Kasumba’s son with whom I went to court and it decreed that Kasumba’s was no longer ins a stable state of mind. They then assumed powers to run the businesses.
 

The Lubaga RDC, Zaina Muwonge who also attended the meeting however expressed concern how Kasumba’s family had conspired against his legally wedded wife whom many of them knew well and even attended the function.
 

Kiyimba however claims they have no issues with his brother’s wife and their three children are all known to the family and they even give her upkeep money. He says he only wishes that she cooperates with the family.
 

Kampala metropolitan police boss Kaweesi has now directed a full scale investigation into what appears to be fraud by members of Kasumba’s family.

He said of main interest is a forged letter that was purportedly signed by Kasumba while he was undergoing treatment in Nairobi directing his relatives to clear payment for a building he was purchasing at Kisekka market.
 

“How can Kasumba, who was known to be incapacitated, have given such a directive and signed off the letter with a mere thumb print?” Kaweesi noted.
 

He also warned those who are sending deaths to Esther and said he had directed the Police’s Flying Squad to seriously investigate the matter.