KAMPALA – Businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba has pledged to support the family of his deceased colleague Charles Muhangi to keep his property he has been wrangling over in Kampala with other tycoons.
Basajjabalaba, who is the proprietor of Kampala International University (KIU), among other businesses, warned all those who think that with Muhangi’s death they will retain the contested property should forget.
“We shall give you maximum support, even from government; we shall not allow grabbing of his property. I have fought even tougher challenges, whoever thinks that Muhangi has died they will take his property should forget,” he said.
Basajjabalaba was speaking on Sunday at the burial of Muhangi in Bumbaire II Village in Bumbaire Sub-county in Bushenyi District that was attended by thousands of people, including Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda. Muhangi was found dead at his home last Thursday in Buziga, Kampala, with a postmortem reporting that he suffered a heart attack.
Muhangi had recently been in the news following a wrangle with businessmen Drake Lubega and Hajji Mansoor Matovu, also known as Yanga, over ownership of properties in Kampala.
At the burial, Dr Rugunda commended Muhangi for being hardworking and development-oriented and urged Ugandans and his children to emulate him.
“The image of Kampala has changed because of that development (horizon city). If we had many Muhangis, development of the country would have gone ahead on a faster rate. He loved Uganda, business, and uplift others and we should emulate him from these,” he said.
“He laid foundation for public transport. What has been on his heart is to develop business and Uganda, that’s why he was involved in (property) wrangles. But when you are driving on marrum dust has to be raised,” the Premier added.
Dr Rugunda delivered a condolence message of Shs10 million from President Museveni.
Former Secretary-General in the East African Community Maj (Rtd) Amanya Mushega, who also hails from Bumbaire Sub-county, praised the deceased as a source of pride to the community.
“He brought us pride and honour and revived the family to where it is now,” he said.
Muhangi’s widow Patience Muhangi, in her eulogy, said her husband was still very ambitious even at his age of 65 when most people are retiring.
“He was planning very big and long-term developments as if he was going to live 200 years,” she said.
Muhangi’s mother Angella Rwankoore said Muhangi’s ambition was evident in childhood when he dropped out of secondary school to pursue business in order to sustain the family after his father Alphose Rwankoore was killed during the Idi Amin’s regime.
The Bishop of West Ankole Anglican Diocese, Rt Rev Johnson Twinomujuni, emphasized the need for respect and love for one another. “Who will remain in this world forever? Why should you hate your brother?”
