Basajja Attacks Rivals

HAJJI Hassan Basajjabalaba, has criticised his business rivals for carrying out a smear campaign against him in the local press, reports Yunusu Abbey. Basajjabalaba told The New Vision on phone yesterday, “I know whatever is appearing in the press now is the work of my business rivals. They are trying to tarnish and destroy me but I am not bothered at all because I know I have a clean record.” “I know those who are behind the campaign to discredit me but I will not name them now. The law will take its course,” he said. Hassan B, as he is popularly known, was reacting to an article that appeared in Uganda Confidential yesterday. The story claimed Standard Chartered Bank had blocked US$40m, which had been wired from Boston, USA, to Basajjabalaba’s account in Kampala. The report said Basajjabalaba appeared to be in trouble because American investigators were expected in Kampala to probe the alleged transfer. But Basajjabalaba yesterday dismissed the allegations as baseless and unfounded. “It is funny to hear someone else saying I am in trouble when I know my position. Maybe Mr. Cheeye (Teddy) thinks he knows me more than myself,” he said. He said, “First of all, let them ask the bank whether it has ever received that money ($40m) before they write about me. I am taking the matter to court,” he said. “I challenge those who claim the $40m was sent to me from Boston to produce the evidence.,” he added. Basajjabalaba, who sounded angry, said he was fed up with the negative publicity which “my business rivals are engineering.” He said such baseless allegations would not stop him from transacting normal businesses. In an interview in August, Basajjabalaba said his critics had resorted to maligning him because they were scared of fair competition. “But I have now decided what to do with them. I am going to buy their property and put an end to this ‘fitina’ (malice) once and for all,” he said. A father to five children, Basajjabalaba, 35, says he is worth US $10m and is insured at $6m. The companies he is involved in include Basajjabalaba Hides & Skins Exporters, Yudaya International and Haba Investments. The acquired property includes Lake View Regency Hotel, Mbarara (sh2.6b), UCB mansion at Munyonyo (sh560m) and former Rena Hotel on Namirembe Road (sh800m). Ends