Step aside Ezra, here comes Meddie
Mar 04, 2011
AS soon as the evening of Mike Ezra seems to be passing by, Kampala gets another mysterious tycoon, a new Ezra of sorts. He is as smart, mysterious, rich, extravagant, flashy and lavish. Only that he is younger.
By Pidson Kareire
AS soon as the evening of Mike Ezra seems to be passing by, Kampala gets another mysterious tycoon, a new Ezra of sorts. He is as smart, mysterious, rich, extravagant, flashy and lavish. Only that he is younger. His name is Meddie Ssentongo alias Tumusiime.
Meddie stormed Kampala last year and has now become a name to reckon with in all of Kampala social and watering joints especially from the way he spends money.
He drives posh cars – all with personalised number plates, from MEDDIE I to MEDDIE 13. He keeps body guards (kanyamas), spends money like Saudi oil sheikhs – usually millions in one bar, buys people – even strangers – drinks and does not seem to be about to stop.
Recently, he bought Mike Ezra’s customized E1 Mercedes Benz and re-registered it with a personalized number plate, MEDDIE 10. He then donated a BMW convertible valued at about sh75m to singer Jose Chameleone yet Chameleone is thought to be one of the most moneyed musicians in town.
Meddie said in donating the car, he was atoning for his past childish behaviour. Three years ago, he had a quarrel with Chameleone. In fury, he entered his car and attempted to run Chameleone over at the Airtel roundabout in Kampala. The singer escaped with injuries that took him to Kololo Hospital.
who is this Meddie and what is the source of his money?
Getting an appointment with Meddie does not come easy. I tried for two weeks and finally, he gave me 20 minutes.
He agreed to meet me at 4:00pm, but for security reasons, did not disclose the venue. Ten minutes to time, he called to say we could meet at Quality Village in Lubowa.
I was 15km away from the venue. I hurriedly got a bodaboda to Lubowa, but on my way, he called me three times, saying my time was running out.
When I arrived, his white Range Rover Sport, with a personalised number plate MEDDIE 5, was in the parking lot. As I alighted, he called me to his car. I wanted to sit in the back, but he politely asked me to sit in front and asked his kanyamas to leave us in peace.
Meddie was dressed in black jeans, a black denim shirt and snow white sneakers.
Our interview was often interrupted by incessant phone calls. He was a busy man. He showed me about 10 cars in the parking lot whose occupants were waiting to see him after our meeting.
Meddie is soft spoken and security conscious. he keeps monitoring everything around him.
I asked him how he earns his money. “I am a dealer. I deal in real estate and posh cars. I buy cheap land, houses and other properties, then sell at my pace and get big profit margins.â€
Meddie’s story is of a self-made man. Born in 1982 in Ntinda, to Haruna Kafeero Byanyima and the late Zainabu Nakatte of Nambale, Mityana, Meddie could only study up to senior five because of lack of school fees.
“Before my mother died in 1995, she instilled in me a hard working spirit, which still drives me,†he said. “She left me with one important prophecy, that ‘hardwork pays’.â€
Meddie started out at Buye Islamic Primary School and Buganda Road Primary School, then joined Kololo High and later, Kampala High School.
“There were many schools because my parents were not able to pay. They would pay one term and fail to pay the following one, and then I would move to another school,†he said.
His father was a mechanic but had many families in Kampala and Mityana. “I started living with him in Kampala after my mother died. Soon after, he lost his wealth and had to return to the village. I remained in Kampala to struggle on my own.â€
Meddie says his love for money stretches far back to his primary school days. “I grew up wanting to be a billionaire. I loved money so much but I have never stolen anything. I started by working as a casual labourer at the age of 14 and I was living alone at 17. Today, I can build, repair cars, and do all sorts of handy jobs.â€
After saving money, Meddie went by bus for kyeyo in South Africa in 2000, where he lived for one year as a mechanic and doing casual work.
“I learnt so much in South Africa especially how to make money work for you, using less money to make more money and how to add value to items to attract buyers.â€
In 2001, he relocated to France, but things did not go well, so he went to the USA.
“When I returned to Kampala, I bought three plots of land in Nansana, at about sh3m each. Years later, when the going became tough, I sold them very highly and realised how profitable the land business was. I have not looked back. I have been in the real estate business and made money from it.â€
Before my time ran out, I reminded him of lavish spenders and how their money vanishes quickly.
He laughed.
“If I get a big profit margin from my businesses, why wouldn’t I spend a small percentage? People only see me spending and don’t see my transactions. That is why they are inquisitive and worried about my money on my behalf.
"That is just ignorance of my sources of income. I make my money through genuine deals. When the profit is ample, I am free to spend it the way I want, as long as I follow the law.â€
Single and searching
You are 30 and not married?
No, I am not. I don’t even have a child.
What about Black Latif?
She is just my friend and my business partner. I am single and searching.
How about a rich girl called Dora?
I dated Dorothy Muganga, but we parted. God did not approve of our relationship; we agreed to disagree and we are both happy. I have no caveat nor do the women I date.
Is it your strategy to date rich women and take advantage of them for their money?
No! That is gossip. People can say anything! What is needed here is logic: Those who claim that I get my money from rich women; why don’t they go and do the same? There are many men out there who want money. Which woman can give you all the cars that I have? The truth is that I have worked for what I have. Today almost everyone in Kampala knows Meddie Ssentongo.
When do you plan to marry?
Not yet. I have stayed all marriage proposals because I want to marry when I have all necessities of life. I don’t want my child to suffer like I did. That is why, despite my wealth, I am not married and have no child. But when it comes, my marriage will not be luxurious, it will just be glamorous and all my friends must attend.
Being Muslim, will you have 4 wives?
That is history. The four wives practice is outdated; I cannot marry more than one wife.
Do you worry about losing all your money?
One thing I know is that money is not about hardwork; it is about God’s will. If you trust in God and He is with you, money will always be in your hands. Look at me; in real estate business, I double profits without working so hard. When God is on your side, money is too.
Any plans for politics?
I am a great admirer of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; he is my role model. i fell for him greatly when I read his biography. The difference between him and I is that he used a gun to get his achievements while I am using manual skills. I am actually the chief advisor to the Yellow Movement Bus, which includes all youth who strongly support the movement.
What do you do in your leisure time?
I love computer games and science. I am a boxer. I do martial arts, basketball and music.
Interview by PIDSON KAREIRE
AS soon as the evening of Mike Ezra seems to be passing by, Kampala gets another mysterious tycoon, a new Ezra of sorts. He is as smart, mysterious, rich, extravagant, flashy and lavish. Only that he is younger. His name is Meddie Ssentongo alias Tumusiime.
Meddie stormed Kampala last year and has now become a name to reckon with in all of Kampala social and watering joints especially from the way he spends money.
He drives posh cars – all with personalised number plates, from MEDDIE I to MEDDIE 13. He keeps body guards (kanyamas), spends money like Saudi oil sheikhs – usually millions in one bar, buys people – even strangers – drinks and does not seem to be about to stop.
Recently, he bought Mike Ezra’s customized E1 Mercedes Benz and re-registered it with a personalized number plate, MEDDIE 10. He then donated a BMW convertible valued at about sh75m to singer Jose Chameleone yet Chameleone is thought to be one of the most moneyed musicians in town.
Meddie said in donating the car, he was atoning for his past childish behaviour. Three years ago, he had a quarrel with Chameleone. In fury, he entered his car and attempted to run Chameleone over at the Airtel roundabout in Kampala. The singer escaped with injuries that took him to Kololo Hospital.
who is this Meddie and what is the source of his money?
Getting an appointment with Meddie does not come easy. I tried for two weeks and finally, he gave me 20 minutes.
He agreed to meet me at 4:00pm, but for security reasons, did not disclose the venue. Ten minutes to time, he called to say we could meet at Quality Village in Lubowa.
I was 15km away from the venue. I hurriedly got a bodaboda to Lubowa, but on my way, he called me three times, saying my time was running out.
When I arrived, his white Range Rover Sport, with a personalised number plate MEDDIE 5, was in the parking lot. As I alighted, he called me to his car. I wanted to sit in the back, but he politely asked me to sit in front and asked his kanyamas to leave us in peace.
Meddie was dressed in black jeans, a black denim shirt and snow white sneakers.
Our interview was often interrupted by incessant phone calls. He was a busy man. He showed me about 10 cars in the parking lot whose occupants were waiting to see him after our meeting.
Meddie is soft spoken and security conscious. he keeps monitoring everything around him.
I asked him how he earns his money. “I am a dealer. I deal in real estate and posh cars. I buy cheap land, houses and other properties, then sell at my pace and get big profit margins.â€
Meddie’s story is of a self-made man. Born in 1982 in Ntinda, to Haruna Kafeero Byanyima and the late Zainabu Nakatte of Nambale, Mityana, Meddie could only study up to senior five because of lack of school fees.
“Before my mother died in 1995, she instilled in me a hard working spirit, which still drives me,†he said. “She left me with one important prophecy, that ‘hardwork pays’.â€
Meddie started out at Buye Islamic Primary School and Buganda Road Primary School, then joined Kololo High and later, Kampala High School.
“There were many schools because my parents were not able to pay. They would pay one term and fail to pay the following one, and then I would move to another school,†he said.
His father was a mechanic but had many families in Kampala and Mityana. “I started living with him in Kampala after my mother died. Soon after, he lost his wealth and had to return to the village. I remained in Kampala to struggle on my own.â€
Meddie says his love for money stretches far back to his primary school days. “I grew up wanting to be a billionaire. I loved money so much but I have never stolen anything. I started by working as a casual labourer at the age of 14 and I was living alone at 17. Today, I can build, repair cars, and do all sorts of handy jobs.â€
After saving money, Meddie went by bus for kyeyo in South Africa in 2000, where he lived for one year as a mechanic and doing casual work.
“I learnt so much in South Africa especially how to make money work for you, using less money to make more money and how to add value to items to attract buyers.â€
In 2001, he relocated to France, but things did not go well, so he went to the USA.
“When I returned to Kampala, I bought three plots of land in Nansana, at about sh3m each. Years later, when the going became tough, I sold them very highly and realised how profitable the land business was. I have not looked back. I have been in the real estate business and made money from it.â€
Before my time ran out, I reminded him of lavish spenders and how their money vanishes quickly.
He laughed.
“If I get a big profit margin from my businesses, why wouldn’t I spend a small percentage? People only see me spending and don’t see my transactions. That is why they are inquisitive and worried about my money on my behalf.
"That is just ignorance of my sources of income. I make my money through genuine deals. When the profit is ample, I am free to spend it the way I want, as long as I follow the law.â€
Single and searching
You are 30 and not married?
No, I am not. I don’t even have a child.
What about Black Latif?
She is just my friend and my business partner. I am single and searching.
How about a rich girl called Dora?
I dated Dorothy Muganga, but we parted. God did not approve of our relationship; we agreed to disagree and we are both happy. I have no caveat nor do the women I date.
Is it your strategy to date rich women and take advantage of them for their money?
No! That is gossip. People can say anything! What is needed here is logic: Those who claim that I get my money from rich women; why don’t they go and do the same? There are many men out there who want money. Which woman can give you all the cars that I have? The truth is that I have worked for what I have. Today almost everyone in Kampala knows Meddie Ssentongo.
When do you plan to marry?
Not yet. I have stayed all marriage proposals because I want to marry when I have all necessities of life. I don’t want my child to suffer like I did. That is why, despite my wealth, I am not married and have no child. But when it comes, my marriage will not be luxurious, it will just be glamorous and all my friends must attend.
Being Muslim, will you have 4 wives?
That is history. The four wives practice is outdated; I cannot marry more than one wife.
Do you worry about losing all your money?
One thing I know is that money is not about hardwork; it is about God’s will. If you trust in God and He is with you, money will always be in your hands. Look at me; in real estate business, I double profits without working so hard. When God is on your side, money is too.
Any plans for politics?
I am a great admirer of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; he is my role model. i fell for him greatly when I read his biography. The difference between him and I is that he used a gun to get his achievements while I am using manual skills. I am actually the chief advisor to the Yellow Movement Bus, which includes all youth who strongly support the movement.
What do you do in your leisure time?
I love computer games and science. I am a boxer. I do martial arts, basketball and music.
Interview by PIDSON KAREIRE