Chris Kiwawulo and Herbert Ssempogo
12 November 2008
Kampala — The Democratic Party secretary general was yesterday committed to Luzira Prison for failure to pay a debts.
Mwanga II Court magistrate Issa Sserunkuuma ruled that Mathius Nsubuga be sent to Luzira for six months for failing to pay sh11.2m he owes Madinah Nakabiito, a businesswoman based in Nansana, Wakiso.
Earlier in the day, Nsubuga had survived being taken to Luzira when Mengo Court magistrate Amos Kwizera allowed him to pay sh2m out of the sh8.4m he owes city businessman Bosco Muyira.
After paying sh2m, Kwizera ordered Nsubuga, who is also the Bukoto South MP, to pay Muyira sh1.5m every month until he clears the debt.
Nsubuga was arrested in Wandegeya at around 7:30am when bailiffs, led by Moses Kirunda, intercepted his car.
The brokers took him to Old Kampala Police Station, where he spent about six hours pleading for more time.
The creditors, however, insisted that the MP pays or be taken to court. At about mid-day, the bailiffs whisked Nsubuga to Mengo Court.
Nsubuga got money from Nakabiito and Muyira over a year ago, on grounds that he needed to transport some items he was to distribute to his constituents.
Nakabiito's lawyer, Kenneth Kajeke, told Mwanga II Court that the MP had failed to fulfil a promise to pay sh3m by October 31 and thereafter pay sh1m monthly until he clears the debt.
Nsubuga's lawyer, Joseph Balikuddembe, who is also the MP for Busiro South, argued that his client had failed to pay due to financial constraints.
"I would, unfortunately, like to inform you that the judgment debtor (Nsubuga) has been much constrained financially and has not been able to fulfil his promise," Balikuddembe said.
He pleaded that Nsubuga be freed so that he pays up the entire amount (sh11.2m) by December 22.
After consultations with her lawyer, Nakabiito insisted that she was not interested in any more talks with Nsubuga, adding that she immediately wanted sh5m.
Nsubuga looked perturbed and at one point, he attempted to make a call on his mobile phone, presumably for rescue. This angered the magistrate, who cautioned him.
When the two lawyers failed to reach a compromise, the magistrate ordered that Nsubuga be taken to Luzira for six months.
Moments after the ruling, wardens led Nsubuga into a waiting prisons bus and whisked him away.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
