Uganda Updates
Burahya MP Margaret Muhanga, Tuesday experienced hard time after MPs on the parliament’s committee on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) tasked her to explain how she acquired 23.1 acres of land belonging to Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation (UBC).
Muhanga together with city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba of Haba group of companies was pinned by the audit report of 2014/15, requiring the latter to face the line committee to defend themselves. But the MP denied flouting of the anti-money laundering act that required her to declare the funds because she used more than 100m to pay for the UBC land situated in Bugoloobi, a Kampala suburb in April 2014.
However, Muhanga who was initially obstinate to taking oath before the committee acknowledged making the land transaction in cash, which she got (pun intended) from selling off cows, goats and loans from friends and family.
The committee chaired by Bukedea’s Annette Amongo, also understood that the national broadcaster doesn’t have any assets registered in its name. However, UBC officials including Nathan Nabeta, the former UBC board chairperson, told the committee that the court ruled in the UBC’s favour, quashing the fraud. But again, Nabeta who said that he couldn’t fully account for UBC properties because his predecessor Paul Kihika didn’t hand over the office to him informed the committee that despite court’s ruling, Muhanga is yet to return the land title to the national broadcaster.
Muhanga’s incident isn’t the first one in history after former Minister for presidency Kabakumba Matsiko was found guilty by the parliament’s committee of stealing the UBC mast, triggering her forceful resignation as cabinet minister in 2011.
People on the internets have since created a #HowMuhangaGot10Bn tag to try and make sense of all this. Here are some of our favourite:
Let’s begin with the most sobering one:
But as usual..We going to make it a big issue on social media, after a few days we go ???????????? and culprits get away with it #HowMuhangaGot10Bn
— Salvado Comedian (@idringp) August 3, 2016
And then the funny ones:
Is it my fault you’ve been rearing the wrong type of cows and goats? Msscchheewww. #HowMuhangaGot10Bn pic.twitter.com/eEkAWnr3Kq — Siima K K Sabiti (@kanyindo) August 3, 2016
When a hommie says he’s found a book on how to make 10Bn then you find him reading this … pic.twitter.com/xYLvvWpmld
— Talkative Rocker (@beewol) August 3, 2016
She sold Bihogo…the real Bihogo (guess it was not just a legend after all) #HowMuhangaGot10Bn pic.twitter.com/Vl4GxGdN6x — Robert V Nsibirwa (@rvnsibirwa) August 3, 2016
How I would enter Kampala after selling cows and goats for UGX10BN. #HowMuhangaGot10Bn pic.twitter.com/tDN1eX469q
— Allan Ssenyonga (@ssojo81) August 2, 2016
1/2: When your sister tells you your family cows are worth 10bn. #HowMuhangaGot10Bn pic.twitter.com/zj8S7MDSiz — Bernard Mukasa (@mkbernz) August 2, 2016
2/2 when you realise it wasnt a joke and your sis actually sold ur family cows for 10bn. #HowMuhangaGot10Bn pic.twitter.com/BMnr2CHWJE
— Bernard Mukasa (@mkbernz) August 2, 2016
She’s the only Ugandan that had cows blessed by the Pope. #HowMuhangaGot10Bn pic.twitter.com/Qxcqk8kc0i — Thomas Ddumba (@tomddumba) August 2, 2016
We can bailout the tycoons by selling her remaining cows #HowMuhangaGot10Bn
— Mbabazi Horace (@MbabaziHorace) August 2, 2016
#HowMuhangaGot10Bn The grass those goats were feeding on must have been from the Canadian Prairies. — Herbert Ochan ☆ (@odurochan) August 2, 2016
If there is one you liked that we’ve missed, drop it in the comments section below. We’d also like to know what you think about the entire story.
