Basajjabalaba summoned over sh61m debt
BUSINESSMAN Hassan Bassajjabalaba has been summoned by Commercial Court, over a sh61m debt arising from furniture he acquired
By Betty Amamukirori and Barbra Kabahumuza
BUSINESSMAN Hassan Basajjabalaba has been summoned by Commercial Court, over a sh61m debt arising from furniture he acquired.
On Tuesday, the court registrar Thaddeus Opesen gave a 15 day ultimatum to Basajjabalaba the proprietor of Kampala International University (KIU), to file his defense against the allegations or else court proceeds to give judgment in his absence.
“Should you fail to file a defense to the claim on or before the date, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit,” reads the summon letter.
Early this month, Nina Interiors a company that deals in interior design and furniture went to court seeking to recover sh61.3m which is the outstanding sum on the furniture supplied to Basajjabalaba.
It is alleged that upon being approached by Basajjabalaba in October 31, 2014, Nina Interiors supplied him on credit with a range of items including tables, sofa sets, beds, stands, mattresses, bedcovers, pillows, cushions, wall hangings and glass vases, all amounting to sh61.3m inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT).
The items were delivered to his place at Bwebajja Satellite City on Entebbe Road and he was to pay the purchase price after being served with a Tax Invoice. However, after being served with the invoice, he refused to pay the money.
The company contends that in order to recover their money, they employed the services of debt collectors, Holga Ltd, but their efforts hit a snag when Bassajjabalaba adamantly paid no heed.
Through their lawyers from Shwekyerera, Kalera and Co Advocates, the company avers that it has suffered business loss and wants the money paid back with interest at commercial rate of 25% per annum from November 1, 2014.
The company also wants court to award them sh9.8m as general damages for breach of contract and costs of the suit.
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