NRM headquarters faces closure over rent arrears

NRM supporters erect an air-filled tarpaulin-balloon with President Museveni’s picture on it at the entrance to the party headquarters in November 2010.

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The in-charge of the premises says they will seek to attach NRM properties to recover their money worth Shs160 million.

Kampala

Owners of the premises on which the National Resistance Movement offices are accommodated have said the ruling party has not paid rent of up to the tune of Shs160 million since January last year.

Hajj Rashid Turyatunga, who is in charge of the premises located on Plot 10 Kyadondo Road, said yesterday that Nile Travel Agencies, a company he works for, met the President in February, and despite an order by the latter that their monies be paid, the matter has not been acted upon.

Now, under their lawyers, Waluku, Wettaka & Company Advocates, the company in a March 13 letter threatened to issue a warrant of distress to the ruling party if it fails to pay the rent owed to them.
“...you did execute a tenancy agreement with your client to pay rent of $3,000 (about Shs7.5 million), [VAT exclusive] per month in advance for 18 months with effect from January 1 2012 to June 2013,” the letter to the party secretary general reads in part.

Demands
‘That by this notice, our client hereby demands payment of US$63,720 (Shs159,218,000) [VAT Inclusive] as rent for 18 months. Failure of which we shall recover the same through courts of law,” the letter notes.
Mr Turyatunga said: “We shall not evict them but we will issue a warrant of distress and their property will have to be attached for us to recover our money.”

Mr Katongole Singh, the NRM deputy treasurer, said the party has taken long to pay the rent due to the ongoing fundraising drive to build an independent party headquarters. He promised money would be paid in a month.

“We are in negotiations on whether we pay the rent or buy off the whole plot and this will be done in a month. I have put in the rent requisition and when the money comes through, we will be able to pay,” Mr Katongole said.