Cops comb Luzira for Kasulu’s phone
Nov 26, 2004
UGANDA Prisons authorities are combing Murchison Bay Prison at Luzira in search of a mobile phone. <br>The phone was reportedly smuggled in by the embattled Property Masters proprietor, Patrick Kasulu, now on remand for multi-million shillings fraud.
By Alfred Wasike
and Hillary Kiirya
UGANDA Prisons authorities are combing Murchison Bay Prison at Luzira in search of a mobile phone.
The phone was reportedly smuggled in by the embattled Property Masters proprietor, Patrick Kasulu, now on remand for multi-million shillings fraud. Sources said Kasulu, who was remanded for over 20 criminal charges and 20 civil cases, has been extending phone services to other prisoners.
In a related incident, the Police are investigating a letter smuggled out of the Murchison Bay prison by Kasulu, claiming that his colleagues are fraudulently advertising properties that are under contention and investigation, to con the unsuspecting public.
The New Vision received information that among other entitled privileges, Kasulu has a mobile phone with the number 078470779, a mosquito net, newspapers and other prohibited items.
Sources said Kasulu also sneaked out of the prison in the evenings in tinted vehicles with the knowledge of the authorities, to go and transact business with his partners who find him at his Seeta home and other places convenient to him. A reliable source, who talked to a relative of one of the inmates, said the prisoners were able to communicate with their relatives or friends using Kasulu’s phone, to issue directives on how to go about the transactions.
“All one needs to do is to buy airtime and pass it on to the phone using the ‘me to you’ MTN service and they will be able to call you back. Alternatively, you can buy airtime and send it to the phone,†said the source.
When The New Visioncalled the number in an attempt to talk to some one in the cells using the name ‘John Kyambade,’ a man called Afande Mwesigwa picked the phone and said he would look out for him at around 8:00pm. Mwesigwa said he was based at Luzira prison.
The New Vision called the number several times and the male recipient answered reluctantly as he demanded to know the identity of the caller.
A shocked prisons spokesperson, Mary Kaddu said, “That is not allowed at all. We are combing every inch of the prison. That is very illegal. We can’t allow mobile phones and other such things among inmates. That is not allowed.â€
On Kasulu’s letter, she said, “That is a small right which we allow inmates like him to exercise. His letter was authorised by the OC (officer-in-charge) Murchison Bay. We believe he is passing valuable information to the police.â€
An assistant commissioner in charge of crime, Edison Mbiringi, said, “We have received that complaint and we are investigating it.â€
Kasulu’s letter is dated October 10, 2004 and is addressed to the CID director. It bears a stamp from the office of the OC Murchison Bay Prison.
It says: “It has come to my notice that three of my colleagues are advertising several properties in The New Vision, which properties are a subject of investigation, have been sold or some clients have made partial payments for them.
“They are being advertised under a ‘sister’ company of ours called Ntare Agencies Ltd. We registered it under one of my business associates at Property Masters called Cyril Butosha Kambarage (a UPDF soldier/paymaster on trial in the Court Martial over ghost soldiers).â€
Kasulu said the ‘sister’ company operates an account in DFCU Bank Impala House.
“I suspect, from the description and contents of the adverts, they are being advertised through connivance of Cyril Butosha Kambarage, Dennis Kusasira and Aloysius Kagga. the latter two are my employees,†he wrote, warning that the public would “lose colossal sums of money.â€
He cited an example in which several plots at Naalya Housing Estate of 25 decimals at sh32m purportedly belonging to one Kityo, were advertised yet they were under dispute.
Kasulu said a house worth sh50m at Kiwatule was advertised yet it had been sold and was at the centre of a High Court wrangle.
In a strange twist, a firm of lawyers, Tumwesigye, Baingana & Co. Advocates defended Ntare Agencies Ltd., denying that it took over property that was in possession of Kasulu.
They said, “While Kasulu Property Masters E.A Ltd was incorporated as a sole proprietor registered in 2001, our client has been in existence since December 12, 1996, when it was incorporated. Therefore our client was in existence long before Kasulu Property became a corporate body.
“The false allegations circulated to the media houses by Kasulu have been driven by overt malice and bad faith, which was a full department (of malice and sabotage) under Kasulu Property Masters when it was still a going concern.â€
They claimed that Kasulu was trying to divert their client from pursuing “its claim of sh300m against him and the company vide; Civil Suit No. 654 of 2004 filed at the Commercial Court.â€
Kasulu is also said to be operating another company in the names of Property Brothers, with three branches, one of which is on the second floor of Uganda House.
and Hillary Kiirya
UGANDA Prisons authorities are combing Murchison Bay Prison at Luzira in search of a mobile phone.
The phone was reportedly smuggled in by the embattled Property Masters proprietor, Patrick Kasulu, now on remand for multi-million shillings fraud. Sources said Kasulu, who was remanded for over 20 criminal charges and 20 civil cases, has been extending phone services to other prisoners.
In a related incident, the Police are investigating a letter smuggled out of the Murchison Bay prison by Kasulu, claiming that his colleagues are fraudulently advertising properties that are under contention and investigation, to con the unsuspecting public.
The New Vision received information that among other entitled privileges, Kasulu has a mobile phone with the number 078470779, a mosquito net, newspapers and other prohibited items.
Sources said Kasulu also sneaked out of the prison in the evenings in tinted vehicles with the knowledge of the authorities, to go and transact business with his partners who find him at his Seeta home and other places convenient to him. A reliable source, who talked to a relative of one of the inmates, said the prisoners were able to communicate with their relatives or friends using Kasulu’s phone, to issue directives on how to go about the transactions.
“All one needs to do is to buy airtime and pass it on to the phone using the ‘me to you’ MTN service and they will be able to call you back. Alternatively, you can buy airtime and send it to the phone,†said the source.
When The New Visioncalled the number in an attempt to talk to some one in the cells using the name ‘John Kyambade,’ a man called Afande Mwesigwa picked the phone and said he would look out for him at around 8:00pm. Mwesigwa said he was based at Luzira prison.
The New Vision called the number several times and the male recipient answered reluctantly as he demanded to know the identity of the caller.
A shocked prisons spokesperson, Mary Kaddu said, “That is not allowed at all. We are combing every inch of the prison. That is very illegal. We can’t allow mobile phones and other such things among inmates. That is not allowed.â€
On Kasulu’s letter, she said, “That is a small right which we allow inmates like him to exercise. His letter was authorised by the OC (officer-in-charge) Murchison Bay. We believe he is passing valuable information to the police.â€
An assistant commissioner in charge of crime, Edison Mbiringi, said, “We have received that complaint and we are investigating it.â€
Kasulu’s letter is dated October 10, 2004 and is addressed to the CID director. It bears a stamp from the office of the OC Murchison Bay Prison.
It says: “It has come to my notice that three of my colleagues are advertising several properties in The New Vision, which properties are a subject of investigation, have been sold or some clients have made partial payments for them.
“They are being advertised under a ‘sister’ company of ours called Ntare Agencies Ltd. We registered it under one of my business associates at Property Masters called Cyril Butosha Kambarage (a UPDF soldier/paymaster on trial in the Court Martial over ghost soldiers).â€
Kasulu said the ‘sister’ company operates an account in DFCU Bank Impala House.
“I suspect, from the description and contents of the adverts, they are being advertised through connivance of Cyril Butosha Kambarage, Dennis Kusasira and Aloysius Kagga. the latter two are my employees,†he wrote, warning that the public would “lose colossal sums of money.â€
He cited an example in which several plots at Naalya Housing Estate of 25 decimals at sh32m purportedly belonging to one Kityo, were advertised yet they were under dispute.
Kasulu said a house worth sh50m at Kiwatule was advertised yet it had been sold and was at the centre of a High Court wrangle.
In a strange twist, a firm of lawyers, Tumwesigye, Baingana & Co. Advocates defended Ntare Agencies Ltd., denying that it took over property that was in possession of Kasulu.
They said, “While Kasulu Property Masters E.A Ltd was incorporated as a sole proprietor registered in 2001, our client has been in existence since December 12, 1996, when it was incorporated. Therefore our client was in existence long before Kasulu Property became a corporate body.
“The false allegations circulated to the media houses by Kasulu have been driven by overt malice and bad faith, which was a full department (of malice and sabotage) under Kasulu Property Masters when it was still a going concern.â€
They claimed that Kasulu was trying to divert their client from pursuing “its claim of sh300m against him and the company vide; Civil Suit No. 654 of 2004 filed at the Commercial Court.â€
Kasulu is also said to be operating another company in the names of Property Brothers, with three branches, one of which is on the second floor of Uganda House.