NRM office faces closure over rent

NRM members at their party offices in Bushenyi Town recently. The offices risk being closed over rent arrears. PHOTO BY ZADOCK AMANYISA

Bushenyi- The NRM office in Bushenyi District risks being closed over failure by the party to clear Shs11 million in rent arrears.

The party is supposed to pay Shs300,000 every month for the office on High Street in Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality.

Mr Amos Mugisha, the landlord, said last Saturday he has not been paid for three years. He said he was recently paid Shs1 million out of the amount he is demanding.

He said he constructed the rentals as source of income for his children’s school fees.

“I have not been paid for the last three years and this is being unfair to me because I have school-going children. I have given them up to next week to clear what they owe or I lock the doors,” Mr Mugisha said.

Bushenyi District NRM registrar Lawrence Mbeera confirmed that the party had not paid the rent.
He said NRM secretary general Justine Kasule Lumumba has the answer about the future of the party offices.

“Yes, we have not paid for three years but I refer you to the party secretary general for details,” said Mr Mbeera. Ms Lumumba could not be reached as she didn’t pick our repeated calls.

The district NRM chairman, Mr Hassan Basajjabalaba, could not be reached for comment as his known phone number was not available.

During the NRM conference for greater Bushenyi districts in May, the district chairperson, Mr Willis Bashaasha, raised a concern about how NRM could enhance its visibility when some of its offices were being closed because of rent arrears.

None of the senior party officials commented on the issue.