The Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA), the landlord of the office previously occupied by the late businessman Henry Katanga, has requested that the police either vacate the premises or pay the overdue rent and future payments if they wish to keep the office closed. The office, located at Alliance Building along Nkurumah Road, has been inaccessible since Katanga’s death due to its closure by police operatives, who also took the key.
Henry Katanga, who was a tenant of UCA before his death, passed away following an alleged domestic dispute with his wife, Molly Katanga, at their home in Mbuya last November. Since his passing, the police have kept his office sealed, preventing access to anyone else for nearly ten months.
In an effort to reclaim the property or secure payment, UCA sent a letter to the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), asking that the key be returned so the office can be made available to new tenants. The letter emphasized that UCA, as a private property owner, has the right to decide who rents its premises. They urged the police to either pay the rent arrears and enter into a new rental agreement or vacate the premises.
“Please note that UCA Building is private property, and the landlord reserves the right to determine who rents its premises. Considering that you have closed the office for over nine months without payment of rent, UCA would like to repossess its premises and rent it to others who are ready to pay,” the letter stated.
In a positive development, UCA received a commitment from Katanga’s children, who have agreed to settle the outstanding rent debt and officially vacate the premises, providing some relief to the landlord.
Previously, a man named Ronald Mugabe Ruranga claimed in High Court that he had secured the office and documents as Katanga’s lawyer. However, it remains unclear how the police subsequently took control of the premises, and questions have been raised about Mr. Mugabe’s qualifications and his relationship with the late businessman.
