Prominent Businessman Dismisses alleged Entanglement with DTB Bank
Entebbe – A prominent businessman has dismissed claims of being involved in the ongoing dispute between another businessman Hamis Kiggundu and Diamond Trust Bank.
Businessman Yiga Moosa has overtime been mention mentioned in the ongoing feud that is slated to be determined in the Commercial Court on August 27 2020.
Yiga, who operates from Entebbe and deals with produce amongst other businesses said he was shocked to see his name being dragged into the matter which he says he has no knowledge of.
“We have absolutely no issue with DTB Bank and we know they are a reliable and professional partner in business since they have supported us to grow some of our businesses,” Yiga said.
The businessman says he started banking with DTB in 2016 and in 2017, there is a small matter that arose but was settled amicably which in the right way to do business as partners.
“I had an issue of delayed repayments with DTB but this matter was resolved and all the payments were settled. I do not see why anyone would now want to drag my name in their own disputes. If anyone is in default, he should pay his obligation or discuss how to pay since everyone is facing some hardships during this period,” Yiga added.
This development comes a fortnight since a ferocious battle between Kampala Businessman Hamis Kiggundu, and DTB in a bid to recover an UGX39.7bn loan.
Between February 2011 and September 2016, young tycoon Kiggundu alias Ham of Ham group of companies acquired a loan from the branches of Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) both in Uganda and Kenya in American dollars and Ugandan shillings respectively.
According to DTB Lawyer Kiwanuka Kiryowa, Kiggundu acquired the loan in Four tranches of USD6.2M (about Ugx 22.3b) USD3.2M (about Ugx 11.5b), USD4586 (about Ugx1.6b) and Ushs2.8b.
The loan was consolidated in late 2018 for a period of five years ending on 23rd August 2023.
According to the agreement, the bank would recover the money by deducting 30% (thirty percent) of Kiggundu’s deposits in the bank for the five year period.
However, Bank lawyers said, when DTB started to recover its money from Kiggundu, he started crying foul, saying that the bank was deducting money from his account without his consent. He later rushed to the commercial court and applied for an injunction stopping the bank from recovering their money.
Ham also filed a civil suit in the Commercial Court, which has a hearing for August 27, 2020, to determine whether he owes the said debt to the bank.
The two parties also signed a consent agreement where DTB agreed to forego the 30% deposit, in order to allow for an expeditious hearing of the main case to determine whether Kiggundu owes the said Ushs39.7b to the bank or not.
A banking expert revealed Kiggundu could have run into financial trouble after investing money in low yield real estate projects.
He is currently undertaking an investment in real estate in Kawuku on Entebbe road called Ham Palm villas. “Ham knows the laws governing loan agreements under the loans act of 1965. He is not telling the whole truth. How can a bank with which you have a loan obligation deduct money from your account without your consent?” the banking expert said.
“By rushing to court he is trying to buy time. He knows the villas may not fetch money immediately, because these days its hard to find buyers. The economic shock wave has not spared the real estate industry just like other key sectors of the economy,“ the banker said.
Industry analysts say that Kiggundu is servicing big loans with two other banks.
In 2018, Kiggundu published a book titled: Success And Failure Based on Reason and Reality, in which he narrates his manoeuvres in the business world.
Sources close to Ham say he collects between ushs3-4bn monthly from his real estate.
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