Jinja intervenes as bloody property wrangles escalate sucking in politicians, mafia

Steven Muzusa a Jinja-based lawyer representing Kotecha maintains that his client has all the legal documents…..

BY NELLY OTTO

Jinja, July 10, 2022: A BITTER wrangle between a section of Jinja residents and a Ugandan UK-based investor Vijay Amritlal Kotecha has escalated with accusations and counterclaims over a dilapidated building in the heart of the city.

Security fears the conflict over the Asian property situated on Plot 1C along Iganga Road housing about 10 families could end up in bloodshed unless responsible authorities step in.

According to records, the l924 property in question originally belonged to four members of the Kotecha family, namely Jayantilal Govindji Kotecha, Jayendra Govindji Kotecha, Rasik Govindji Kotecha and Ramesh Govindji Kotecha who reportedly had equal shares at the time Amin expelled Asians in 1972.

The four who live in Europe and the USA reportedly sold off their interests to Vijay Amritlal Kotecha who has been receiving rent for more than 20 years from tenants, including Fauza Kalembe who now claims to be the legal owner.

Trouble started after the elderly Kotecha recently secured a permit from the city authorities to demolish the structure and build a new one in tandem with modern times.

‘…permission is hereby granted to you…ensure the safety of passersby during the hoarding and demolition exercises, liaise with the traffic police to ensure that traffic flow is not affected…’, reads part of the letter.

The letter dated June 14, 2022, was signed by Deputy City Clerk Peter Mawerere who also asked Kotecha to pay shs2m to Jinja Southern Division for the hoarding and demolition permit.

However, the occupants and a group of people deployed by the developer to carry out the exercise engaged in a fist fight until police stepped in to investigate the whole saga surrounding the building.

The tenants who had been paying rent turned against their landlord claiming the building belongs to the government under the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB).

Kotecha through his agents describe the claim as fake. Claims by the tenants are that they got allocation from DAPCB, daring them to take the matter to the courts of law if they have any genuine case as opposed to malicious propaganda.

Geoffrey Kabi, one of the agents, dismisses the tenants as a group of desperate individuals who think they can use blackmail and propaganda to extort money from Kotecha.

‘…some of them have asked us to give them between 100- 200m/= so that they stop making noise and leave to go elsewhere, but it does not happen like that…’ Kabi ranted.

Steven Muzusa a Jinja-based lawyer representing Kotecha maintains that his client has all the legal documents proving ownership of the building which urgently needs to be pulled down.

‘…I am simply doing my work as a lawyer to represent my client who has all the legal and administrative powers over the building, so those making noise should prove their case…’, Muzusa said.

Sabebhe Mayanja from the Divestiture Committee says for one to get interested in a title, one must use registrable instruments which include: Letter of Administration/Probate, Powers of Attorney, or any other legal Interests/Probate, and a Repossession Certificate or Purchase Certificate over the property whose repossession process was not concluded.

A copy of one of the documents obtained by this newspaper is a Repossession Certificate that was issued under LRV 5 Folio 10 on 26 February 1992 signed by Joas Mayanja Nkangi the then minister of state for finance, planning and economic development.

Jinja RCC Saleh Kamba has now intervened fearing the matter could degenerate into deeper insecurity that can disrupt normal business at this time when residents should focus on hard work.

‘…I have formally written to the DAPCB to give me an up-to-date profile of all the property like land and buildings in the city as soon as possible for guidance and intervention…’ he said.

It’s not clear why DAPCB has not yet responded to the request, although the Uganda Police Force some years ago carried out investigations and compiled their findings and recommendations accordingly.

He observes that Jinja is a problematic city on matters of land and buildings which deviates them from the core duties of monitoring government programmes and activities.