Court orders lawyer to pay sh1.6b debt in 15 days

Tibeingana at court on Tuesday. Photos by Joseph Mutebi

LAWYER        COURT

Court has given city lawyer Deox Tibeingana fifteen days to pay sh1.6b debt, which he owes an Indian businessman lest he is jailed for six months.

 
Deo Nizeyimana, the deputy registrar of the execution division of the High Court on Monday released Tibeingana after he had spent one day in Police cells at Central Police Station in Kampala over the debt.

 

Tibeingana was arrested on Sunday at Uganda House and was produced before the court on Monday so that he could be committed to the civil remand.

However, through his lawyer David Ssempala, Tibeingana pleaded with the court which later gave him up to February 28 to clear the debt.

 

The debt arose from a 2015 case in which Tibeingana was ordered by the court to pay businessman Vijay Reddy of Visare Uganda Limited a total of $448,008 (sh1.6b).

 "Whereas the judgment debtor Tibeingana was adjudged by order of this court in 11% arbitral award no.25 of 2015 ordered to pay decretal sum $357,592 and against $250,000 from October 31, 2013, up to full payment which now stands at $1600, 416 making the outstanding executable amount now at $518,008 less amount paid of $70,000 thus a total of $448,008 and whereas the said sum has not been paid to the said decree-holder in satisfaction of the said decree," Nizeyimana ruled.

 

In an interview with the New Vision, Friday Roberts Kagoro of Muwema and Company Advocates the company representing Vijay noted they would immediately arrest Tibeingana if he fails to pay the money on the date the judge had set.

 

He noted that Tibeingana had picked his clients' money and promised he would buy him land but failed to deliver four years ago. "We have been in courts, for now, four years and every time he gives us excuses but should be really the last time. When he fails to pay the money we shall have him arrested and detained in Luzira," Kagoro stated.

 

Speaking to the media, Tibeingana blamed his failure to pay the money to another city businessman who he claimed took over his properties by force.

Vijay's lawyer said his client only wants his money. "For us what we want is money. I do not know anything about Kirumira," Kagoro said.

Tibeingana formerly owned the $3million (shs11billion) Rivonia suites located in Mbuya which was arguably the most expensive hotel in the area.

 

The hotel which had 16 suites that ran as hotel, 14 two-bedroom apartments, and a luxurious health club was known as Health City was opened but 2012 but shortly after the businessman lost if he mortgaged it to money lenders.