Lord Mayor appoints team of lawyers to fight for Qualicel tenants
Mar 29, 2019
The Uganda Police last month evicted a group belonging to the late rally driver, Charles Muhangi of Horizon Coaches Limited and handed over the buildings to businessmen, Drake Lubega and Mansoor Matovu alias Young.
The Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago has selected a team of lawyers to help the over 500 tenants operating from the contested Qualicel Shopping Center and Nabukeera Plaza to file a petition to court restraining the rivaling claimants from collecting monthly rental fees.
He appealed to the traders to remain firm and united in the struggle to fight for their rights as owners of the disputed properties is being sorted out through courts of laws and other authorities to avoid encumbrances to the smooth running of their businesses.
During a meeting at his office at City Hall yesterday, which was attended by the Kampala Central legislator, Muhammad Nsereko, Lukwago said he had appointed a squad of lawyers, led by Baker Ssekanjakko Ssali and Nassan Mpenje, both from Lukwago and Company Advocates to help the traders go through the documentation before they can go to court.
"These two lawyers are going to lead a team that is going to document all your complaints, I will work with them to ensure that we expedite the process of filing a case in court," he said.
The Uganda Police last month evicted a group belonging to the late rally driver, Charles Muhangi of Horizon Coaches Limited and handed over the buildings, including Qualicel Bus Terminal to businessmen, Drake Lubega and Mansoor Matovu alias Young.
But Muhangi's son, Lionel Muhangi has insisted that the eviction was illegal saying it was not executed using a court order.
Godfrey Ntale, who spoke on half of the traders' representatives told Lukwago that majority of them had refused to pay rent for the month of March after failure to decide who was in charge of the premises.
He said although some few, out of scare had accepted to pay, others were still waiting to get assurance that they would pay again when ownership changes hands again.
He said after Lubega and Matovu repossessed the premises, the Muhangi group issued notices demanding for the same rent.
He said that through court, the traders prefer to deposit rental fees on a special account or pay it in court as they wait for the court to pronounce itself on who is the rightful owner of the premises.
They also want a neutral body to be appointed to streamline the management, including collecting power dues, cleaning, and other requirements.
The traders want court to declare who should be the interim administrator of the properties as they waited for the court to start hearing the case on November 4, 2019.
"I paid a lot of money through "Good Will' before I obtain my shop, I also pay sh7m per month, where do they expect me to get the money if they keep on inconveniencing us during their fights," a businesswoman told the Lord Mayor.
"We don't encourage fighting of landlords but in such situations, victims (tenants) who are bound to lose business under such confusion ought to fight for their rights," Lukwago said.
He asked them to fight as a group but cautioned them against fighting a few of their colleagues who had accepted to pay Lubega, saying everyone had a right to decide on what to do.
He, however, said those who had opted to use courts of law also had a right to seek protection from the law since the confusions were affecting their businesses.
Some traders told Lukwago that they had also petitioned the Uganda Revenue Authority to intervene after some of their colleagues complained that they pay higher figures than those written on receipts issued to them.
Nsereko told the traders to use all lawful means including courts of law and parliament to claim for their rights. He vowed to continue advocating for their privileges until they achieve justice.