Tycoon Muhangi evicted from bus park

By Fred Turyakira

Horizon Coaches boss and former motor rally driver champion, Charles Muhangi, was on Tuesday evicted from plot 24-30 Mbaguta Street in Mbarara town following an order from Kampala High court.

Business came to standstill as court bailiffs from Spear link auctioneers and court bailiffs and police in Mbarara towed old parked buses and trucks belonging to Horizon Coaches Company.

They also evicted over 10 tenants who had stores in former Horizon park currently used as a depot.

Horizon Coaches limited sued and lost court case HCCS No.337 of 2006 against 19 respondents including James Mujuni and Commissioner for land registration.

The court ruled the suit property in the occupancy of the judgment debtor Horizon Coaches ltd including plot LRV 4132 folio 11,formerly part of LRV3391 Folio 6, plot 24-30 should be given to James Mujuni, one of the respondents in the case.

Muhangi was not present during the execution of eviction but his manager, Stephen Mushagara, tried to block the eviction saying they were not served to prepare and take the movable property way from the park.

He was later joined by Collins Nuwagaba, Muhangi’s lawyer representative from Ngaruye and co-advocates who tried to block the eviction but was also over powered.

He said court bailiffs rushed to evict with intentions to embarrass our client, Muhangi because he was not served court document and the eviction warrant was still on until December 31 but was executed in a period of four days.

“We are contesting the way eviction was executed; this is a depot and other people have their property kept in stores. They should have waited to December 31 because they don’t have where to keep their property,” Nuwagaba argued.

Isaac Muwata, the court registrar executor on December 14, issued eviction order to Moses Kirunda, the court bailiff and give vacant possession of premises/plot and all developments comprised on the said plot of land at Mbaguta Street in Mbarara Municipality to James Mujuni.

The eviction warrant ordered the bailiff to put the said James Mujuni, the 18th respondent as fore said in the possession of the said premises by way of eviction and removal of all the occupants, agents and servants occupying the said premises in contravention of the law and court orders.

“You are further ordered recover your professional fees and costs to be taxed by this honourable court from the said Horizon Coaches limited. This serves to direct each and every police officer of Uganda police force to facilitate in execution of this lawful warrant without any further delay,” court document read.

Kirunda said he was executing his work as instructed by the court and had no grudge with Muhangi, saying the eviction take an immediate effect on the date court issues eviction order.

“When Horizon Coaches lost the case it had in court since 2006 against 18 respondents and commissioner of land registrations, Court identified all properties in possession of Horizon Coaches limited and this plot is part of those properties to attach and put in possession to Mujuni,” Kirunda said.