Museveni pays Kazibwe debt

By Josephine Maseruka President Yoweri Museveni yesterday paid sh12m that Engineer Charles Kazibwe, husband to Vice-President Dr. Specioza Kazibwe, owed to his bankers, dfcu.Museveni’s press secretary Mary Okurut said in a statement yesterday, “The President has given the court an order for Engineer Kazibwe’s release from prison in Luzira.”Museveni’s legal secretary Mike Chibita delivered sh12m to the Commercial Court registrar, Precious Ngabirano, at 4:00pm.The money was handed over to the bank’s general manager, Willie Ogule and their lawyer, Kalenge.Kazibwe was on Tuesday arrested from his NIC building offices by Debt Masters Auctioneers. He appeared before the court and was committed to Luzira after failing to pay sh5m, which he borrowed in 1999 but accumulated to sh10m with interest.Kalenge yesterday said the sh12m included costs for lawyers and bailiffs. Kazibwe regained his freedom at exactly 6:30pm. He walked out of the giant Luzira prison gates 90 minutes later than the official time for releasing inmates.Kazibwe, who looked calm, walked with a limp and wore dark glasses, a dark-green shirt, khaki trousers, shinning black shoes and had a mobile phone in his right hand.He signed a book at the quarter-guard before boarding a mud-splashed white UDM 480 Toyota saloon car belonging to a friend.“I am very grateful to President Museveni for clearing my debt and I will make sure I meet him to convey my sincere thanks.“I also thank all my seyas (friends) who I understand have not only prayed for me in this trying time but have also been raising funds to clear my debt,” he said.Kazibwe said there was no malice in the commercial court’s decision to commit him to six months in prison. He said he had been given ample time to pay the money.Kazibwe said he did not know if his wife influenced the President’s decision since she had just returned from abroad. He said it was such an experience to be in a prison cell with 11 men who kept on teasing him.“But of course it was only a game of teasing the husband of a VP and we ended up enjoying the fun.”He was later driven away. He dodged journalists who were following him. He also refused to say where he was going and would not answer their calls.