Vantage Mezzanine Fund 11 Partners, a South Africa money lending company through their lawyers of M/S Kirunda & Wasige Advocates have hired the services of Quickway Auctioneers & Court Bailiffs to auction properties worth billions belonging to city tycoon Patrick Bitature, the proprietor of the Simba Properties Investments Companies Limited.

In an Advert placed in Wednesday’s Daily Monitor newspaper, the Court Bailiffs informed the debtor Bitature that he has only 30 days to pay the amount of money with interests borrowed from their client otherwise his properties will be sold off through auctioning.

Among the properties which the set to be sold include Protea Hotel-Naguru (Skyz Hotel), Elizabeth Royal Apartments and Moyo Close Apartments.

Bitature’s troubles started in 2014 when he secured a $10m loan from Vantage Mezzanine and he used the said properties as security.

However, Bitature’s lawyer Fred Muwema rubbished the said auctioning claiming that it is illegal and violates the laws governing the auctioning process.

The advert in today’s Daily Monitor auctioning Bitature’s properties

The furious lawyer even threatened to sue the Daily Monitor for advertising illegal and malicious information against his client claiming that the matter was settled in Justice Musa Ssekaana’s ruling.

He insisted that High Court judge Ssekana refused to allow the auctioning and advised both parties to wait for the pending judgement before the High Court Commercial Division in Kampala.

Vantage Mezzanine dragged Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB), Simba Properties Investment Company Limited, Simba Telecom Limited, Linda Properties Limited, Elgon Terrace Hotel Limited to court for failing to transfer the mortgaged properties into their names.

When Bitature failed to pay his loan, Vantage started the process of transferring the shares of the mortgaged properties but URSB refused to implement the process that is why they were also sued.

In their suit, Vantage wanted a Court declaration that it was illegal for URSB to refuse to register documents lodged to transfer the mortgage.

However, Bitature through his lawyers wants Court to declare that it was illegal for Vantage to register the transfer until the completion of the Commercial Court matter.

An affidavit from Moses Muziki, on behalf of the applicant stated that on 18^th June, 2021, the applicant lodged documents relating to the transfer of shares in Simba Properties Investments Company Limited, Simba Properties Limited, Linda Properties Limited and Elgon Terrace Hotel Limited.

He added that the respondents did not comply with the law and did not provide the applicant with a satisfactory reason for not registering the shares and their lawyers learnt that the respondent’s lawyers were requesting to halt the process.

“This Court would have issued an order of mandamus compelling the applicant’s request to consider the registration of their documents on merit or advance reasons for denial or refusal to register the same in accordance with the law,” the judge ruled.

Muwema based on the above ground to protest the process of auctioning their client’s properties.

By Sengooba Alirabaki

Maj. Dr. Tom Magambo, the Director Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Uganda Police has set tough conditions for all musical shows where controversial female musician Sheebah Karungi is expected to perform.

Multiple credible sources revealed to the mighty Grapevine that on Friday afternoon, Dr. Magambo made a phone call to Sheebah summoning her to CID headquarters to help police detectives in investigating and bringing the culprit who sexually assaulted her to book.

Sources revealed that before calling Sheebah, Dr. Magambo first talked to celebrated investigative journalist Andrew Mwenda who asked Police to force Sheebah to reveal the person who tried to rape her as she alleges because people’s names have been tarnished since she made the controversial video.

Sources at CID said that Mwenda who was speaking on phone told the CID boss that people wanted to kill him and are accusing him of being a rapist.

Sources revealed that Magamba made several phone calls to Sheebah but she was not picking until he sent her a text message asking her to pick his calls.

Sources alleged that Magambo asked Sheebah to reveal to him the person who tried to rape her but she told him that she has to first ask her music management which forced him to summon her next week at the CID headquarters.

BANNING HER MUSICAL SHOWS

Sources said that immediately after the phone conversation, detectives started strategising on how to corner Sheebah to reveal the person who assaulted her because her allegations have put not only Mwenda in bad light but also the entire UPDF fraternity particularly SFC.

In her video clip posted on social media, Sheebah alleged that the person who tried to rape her had millitary bodyguards and people on social media claimed that they were SFC.

Sources divulged that it was agreed to first ban all Sheebah’s music shows until she reports to CID headquarters.

NBS TV JOURNALIST LUTAAYA IN TROUBLE

Sources at the CID headquarters also revealed that among the people detectives want to summon is Daniel Lutaaya the NBS TV investigative journalist.

Detectives want Lutaaya to elaborate on his social media post on twitter that the person who tried to rape Sheebah was at former Vice President professor Gilbert Bukenya’s birthday party.

Sources disclosed that Bukenya’s birthday party took place on the same day as Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the commander Land Forces.

Detectives think that Lutaaya, being an investigative journalist, might have good information to help them arrest the alleged rapist.

HOW MUHOOZI FORCED MWENDA TO BREAK SILENCE ON SHEEBAH

Mwenda revealed that when Sheebah posted her video claiming that a certain public figure was attempting to rape her and people started placing him at the scene of crime, he decided not to respond.

He explained that a number of his close family friends sent him messages asking him to respond to the allegations. He told them that he cannot respond to rubbish.

Mwenda said that on Friday morning, his friend Lt. Gen. Muhoozi called him on phone and asked him to explain the rape allegation put on him.

Mwenda said that Lt. Gen. Muhoozi is the one who informed him that Sheebah performed at his Lugogo Cricket Oval birthday party but he was not aware because he was not the person responsible for organising that party.

He explained that the Lugogo party was organized by Muhoozi’s uncle Micheal Nzeire Toyota and he is the one who invited the musicians who performed at Lugogo.

“Let me tell you in all my life I have never tries to rape a woman and I told Muhoozi that I don’t know that person call Sheebah Kalungi, I never meet her and I don’t even listen to her songs,” Mwenda defended himself.

His defence was confirmed by Muhoozi who posted on his twitter account that, “I have read all your comments about @Ksheebah1. I have seriously interrogated my brother Andrew Mwenda and he says he has never met the lady. So, this is definitely another fake story!!” he said.

Mwenda added that after talking to Muhoozi, he looked for Sheebah’s number and when it was given to him, he called her several times but she refused to answer which forced him to send her a WhatsApp message.

He said that he pleaded to Sheebah to name the person who tried to rape her because people are claiming that he is the one.

Sheebah told Mwenda that her management is working on the issue and she has nothing to do for him.

Mwenda explained that Kalungi’s response forced him to call Dr. Magambo for assistance and so far by Friday evening, the response was positive.

TEAM PROJECT MUHOOZI DECLARES A WAR ON SHEEBAH

Joseph Tamale Mirundi one of the top supporters of Muhoozi revealed that there are people who are behind Sheebah who want to damage Muhoozi’s project for presidency.

Mirundi strongly defended his known enemy Mwenda that he cannot rape a woman.

“She might have squatted near dogs and they raped her because she always dresses indecently. We have declared a war on that girl and she is going to feel us I am telling you,” Mirundi vowed.

SHEEBAH’S LIFE IN DANGER

Timothy Kalyegira, a celebrated journalist revealed that Sheebah might have opened up on rape allegation to save her life because the rapist might have been threatening her life.

Kalyegira opined that Sheebah wanted people to know what she was going through.

He added that security should beef up her security because criminals might use the situation and kill her and dump her body in the forest or in the wetland.

However, Mwenda revealed that Gen. Muhoozi promised to provide security to Sheebah if she thinks that the rapist is too powerful.

By Sengooba Alirabaki

Gagamel International boss Moses Ssali alias Bebe Cool has endorsed Cinderella Sanyu alias Cindy as a candidate of his choice in the upcoming polls for Uganda Musicians Association (UMA) presidency.

Bebe Cool made the endorsement while speaking to journalists on Wednesday saying Cindy is the right candidate for the job.

“Cindy is the right person for the job. She has all the credentials,” Bebe Cool said.

According to Bebe Cool, Cindy who is also the incumbent needs to continue her term in office so as to accomplish and consolidate UMA goals further describing her as a full package that the music industry needs.

 Bebe Cool noted that ‘’Cindy has done an incredible job with her team, finally, UMA is now recognized by all the important stakeholders in the country.  Musicians must give her the mandate to accomplish the job she started, she is my candidate, no doubt.

Being president involves constant lobbying, and interacting with the different stakeholders including the government. We need a president who can speak English for starters. I only see Cindy as the right candidate.

I’ve always been so passionate about Uganda’s arts, artists, and the Ugandan music industry as a whole. I’ve observed and experienced all the ups and downs the Ugandan industry has faced. I have also witnessed different UMA presidents abandon the ship before their terms of office expire because of challenges within the arts industry.

But Cindy even in the challenging Covid-19 times withstood the pressure and kept moving. This resilience in her is proof she’s up for the task.

Some artists might not agree with me because of their differences with Cindy but I believe those same differences forced other presidents to retire prematurely”.

The elections to select UMA leadership are expected to happen soon and Cindy will be battling her close rival Manisul Ssemanda alias King Saha.

The Uganda Musicians Association (UMA) is licensed by the National Union of Creative Performing Artists and Allied Workers (NUCPAAW), to represent musicians, producers, and artist managers.

UMA exists to protect, promote and preserve Ugandan music, and advocate for the interests of its members to the government, the music industry, the media, and the public.

By Kobusiinge Monica