Nateete Police Chiefs Named in Sh7.3bn Property Row
Disputed property in Bunga
Police at Nateete Regional headquarters has been accused of illegally interfering in a property wrangle involving two American citizens. The disputed property is comprised in Block 249, Plot 613 Kyadondo, Mengo in Kampala district.
The property described above is a 2-bedroom 4 storey 12 apartment building fully furnished, valued at $2m( roughly Ugx7.3bn ).
At the centre of the property dispute are two American citizens Janat Nansamba Betty and Michael J. Maestranzi.
“On Tuesday 15th April 2025, a team of police officers and a UPDF officer led by D/SP Daniel Mugume from KMP/South regional CID Police Nateete, Kampala, with a section of unidentified rowdy gang of about twenty (20) men took over the premises and security of the property described above which is a 2- bedrooms 4 storey 12 apartment building fully furnished,” a complaint from Maestranzi‘s lawyers, Gad & Co. advocates to the regional Police commander, KMP South, Natete reads in part.
“Their intention was to forcefully settle in Janat Betty Nansamba to occupy the entire building. They went ahead to disarm the security guards of Senaca , mandated with security of the building; subdued the property staff to kneel down and took possession of the keys for the apartments. The premises are currently under the care of Michael J. Maestranzi who is assisted by his agents Simon Kanyike and Juliet Halonga.”
Maestranzi lawyers urge that the actions of the Uganda Police Force represented by D/SP Mugume Daniel to forcefully put Janet on the property without a court order and without appreciating the nature of the dispute, which is purely civil in nature rather than criminal, were illegal.
“The action of the officers of Uganda Police Force was illegal and ultra vires when they decided to forcefully settle Janat in the apartments where she has not yet settled her mortgage obligations of which a suit is pending before the Commercial Court and is not yet decided,” the statement added.
“We therefore seek your quick and prompt intervention to remove Janat Betty Nansamba from the property until she is granted entry by the Order of the Commercial Court. We also ask that the officers responsible for the illegal operation be brought to book for the unprofessional conduct.”
BACKGROUND
The land comprised in Block 249 Plot 613 Kyandondo Mengo District Makindye Division at Bunga is registered in the name of Janet aka Janat Betty Nansamba.
The apartment building described earlier on the same land was constructed by the Late Richard J.Maestranzi (the deceased), an American national, under a loan arrangement with Janet. Two different mortgages were executed and registered in which Janat borrowed USD 500,000(United States Dollars Five Hundred Thousand Only) on 31st July 2018 and USD 710,000 (United States Dollars Seven Hundred Thousand Only) on 9th November 2018.
The total loan borrowed by Janet from the late Richard Maestranzi was USD 1,210,000 (United States Dollars One Million Two Hundred and Ten Thousand Only) payable in 15 years after completion of construction.
Janat was able to convince the late Richard Maestranzi because she used to be a domestic worker at his home in the USA.
Janat convinced the late that she had property in Kampala near the American Embassy and he could invest on it and she pays back the loan.
The construction of the apartments was supervised by the late Richard Maestranzi and the apartments were completed at the beginning of 2019.
About the same time, Richard J. Maestranzi died before he could hand over the completed building to Janat. Upon his death, his son Michael J. Maestranzi was well aware of the progress of the construction contacted Janet in regard to preparation of the handover.
At this point, Janat denied knowledge of Michael and also denied knowledge of the existence of the second mortgage of USD 710,000. This forced Michael to run to the High Court Commercial Division and file a suit; Civil Suit No. 115 of 2020: RICHARD J. MAESTRANZI JNR (Suing through his attorney) MICHAEL J. MAESTRANZI =V= JANAT BETTY NANSAMBA. Michael sought the refund of the total mortgage amount, damages and costs of the suit.
Janat Betty Nansamba filed a defence in the suit claiming that she only knew the first mortgage.
Michael filed an application in court seeking an order that a third party property manager be appointed by court to manage the property such that he stops bearing burden of incurring expenses as the matter proceeds in court. The court appointed Spectrum Real Estate Solutions on 23rd March 2021. Michael’s agents handed over the building to Spectrum.
Shortly, after Spectrum took over management of the property, complaints of mismanagement arose from Michael’s agents and on 18th March 2022, the then lawyer of Michael informed the court about the complaints.
On 5th May 2022, Spectrum wrote to court resigning from management of the property citing interference by Maestranzi’s agents. The building was left without a proper handover and Michael J. Maestranzi’s agents had to keep the property open and operating waiting for another court appointed manager.
Meanwhile, the matter proceeded in court with Janet’s lawyers filing several applications.
In August 2023, court referred the suit to meditation. This meditation in commercial court took a period of one (1) year (up to August 2024) with the involvement and participation of Janet with her lawyers who eventually decided to abandon meditation without cause.
On 6th March 2025, Janet through her lawyers applied in court in Miscellaneous Application No. 500 of 2025 (Arising out of Misc. App. No. 619 of 202 arising out of Civil Suit No. 115 of 2020) to have the property handed over to Wilken Property Services Limited to manage it and also for court to find Michael J. Maestranzi in contempt of court orders.
This application was responded to by Michael J. Maestranzi giving the background of the case.
On 15th March, 2025 the above application No. 500 of 2025 came up for hearing before Justice Patricia Kahiigi who gave the ruling date of 18th March 2025 to decide the issue.
The judge also fixed the date for the hearing of the witnesses’ evidence on 21st May 2025. The lawyers believe the officers were compromised to execute the illegal move against the investor.
The police didn’t stop here. Through the KMP/South Regional CID officer, Kule Yona, the police has been threatening Maestranzi and his agents with criminal summons in a letter dated 12th April, 2025.
“This office is investigating the above mentioned case whereby you are alleged to have trespassed on the property of Nansamba Jane Betty located on Block 249 Plot 613 land at Bunga,” the summons read.
Maestranzi lawyers believe the criminals summons are meant to intimidate their client off the property and allow Janet to illegally take possession.
COURT ORDERS
However, the police actions were dealt a huge blow when Justice Kahiigi, on May 22nd ordered Janat out of the premises until the main suit is disposed of. During the same court appearance, Michael Maestranzi took to the witness stand in the dock and revealed a chilling confession on how Janat wanted to grab the estate after the death of his father.
Watchers opine that the continuous actions of crooked individuals to fleece foreign investors with protection from State actors are scaring away foreign investors from the country , thus reducing the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
President Yoweri Museveni recently formed the investor protection unit in State House to crackdown on such illegal activities that frustrate investors.
The matter continues in court.
More details to follow…
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