Mengo, Omega lock horns over Shs2.9b Kasubi tombs cash
Under construction. People walk past Kasubi tombs on August 2019, a day after Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga inspected ongoing construction work. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
- Payments. A payment schedule obtained by this newspaper indicates that on May 11, 2013, Shs290m was paid against certificate IPC 01.
- On October 11, 2014 Shs53m was paid against certificate IPC 01 and on March 4, 2014 Shs503m was paid for certificate number IPC 02. The last payment was made on July 22, 2016 against certificate No4 and Shs50m was paid.
Buganda Kingdom officials, and a private company they contracted seven years ago to reconstruct burnt Kasubi tombs, are embroiled in a Shs2.9b quarrel.
Omega Construction Ltd and Mengo officials signed a Shs2.3b contract on December 13, 2012, to reconstruct the tomb. But the kingdom paid only Shs1.2b and the constrictor has been complaining about delayed payment which has now accumulated to Shs2.9b after adding interest on the outstanding sum.
The project was to create an efficient risk prevention scheme at the tomb site, with the necessary equipment and support for the cost of qualified supervision for the reconstruction.
Kasubi tombs, on Block 203, Plot 2777, were torched on March 16, 2010, in a mysterious fire. Mengo ran a fundraising campaign dubbed Etofali at home and abroad but the reconstruction of Kasubi tombs remain incomplete. The Kabaka would later halt fundraising for Kasubi tombs.
The Kingdom officials have, however, explained the delays, citing mandatory cultural considerations.
The Kasubi tombs were torched just nine years after the facility was declared a world heritage facility by Unesco. It was established by Ssekabaka [the late] Mukaabya Walugembe Muteesa I in 1856.
Multiple kingdom officials preferring anonymity told Saturday Monitor that Mengo would not make any further payments to Omega and that they are a waiting the contractor in the commercial court.
One of the officials said they will go for arbitration and ask valuers to audit the work the contractor did vis-à-vis the amount so far paid. They have stopped any payments to the contractor as the dispute rages on.
On February 6, 2019, the kingdom prime minister, Mr Charles Peter Mayiga, halted further payments to Omega, citing absence of quantity surveyors at the time of issuing the final certificate.
Omega’s lawyers hit back at Katikkiro in a letter dated February 27, 2019, saying Mr Everest Nyanzi, a quantity surveyor was present and always issued valuation reports.
Although it is not yet clear whether Omega will drag Mengo to court, the project manager for the reconstruction of the Kasubi Tombs, Mr Jonathan Nsubuga, has already issued the final certificate showing that the works were completed and the payments due to the contractor.
However, Omega’s finance direstor Joseph Mukasa yesterday declined to comment saying it is not his business ethic to discuss matters with the press.
However, Buganda’s Minister for Finance Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa wrote on July 7, 2019.
“I wish to advise that Ggwanika lya Buganda (kingdom treasury) has made part of the payment. This money was wired directly to your account of Eco Bank using RTGS. We were expecting money from government which has not yet been received, however, we promise to continue paying in installments.”
A law firm, Kwesigabo, Bamwine & Walubiri Advocates is representing Omega Construction Ltd. The law firm wrote to the Katikkiro on February 12, 2019 in a letter titled “Final demand for payment in respect of Kasubi Royal Tombs.
“It is common knowledge that this is a very special project for the kingdom in which many people led by your good self-have invested a lot. It would be very embarrassing if a company owned by one of Kabaka’s own people were to sue Kabaka to recover a debt which is clearly not disputed,” the letter reads in part.
Buganda’s information minister Noah Kiyimba yesterday said the kingdom will come up with a statement if necessary.
