By Sadique Bamwita
Kampala
City tycoon Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba must be ready to answer in detail how he, through his company Habba Group of Companies secured a UGX 140 billion guarantee from the Bank of Uganda nine years ago (2017).
The tycoon is supposed to appear next week on September 23, 2026 without fail before the parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) chaired by NUP’s Muwada Nkunyingi.
The summons stem from a letter delivered to the committee by Calvin Onyango of Magina Advocates, requesting that Bassajjabalaba be allowed to appear before the committee next week on Wednesday after he acknowledged receipt of an invitation letter this week on Tuesday.
In their letter, the lawyers told the committee that the Shs140 billion matter is in court and noted that the invitation had been issued at short notice.
The committee members led by their Chairperson Muwada Nkunyingi, expressed concern over what they described as delays by Bassajjabalaba to appearing before the committee and consequently issued fresh summons.
“What is funny is that the Bank of Uganda requested to appear next week to address this same matter, and Hassan Bassajjabalaba is also requesting to appear on Wednesday next week,” Nkunyingi wondered.
Nkunyingi said the fresh summons should be served by police officers and directed Bassajjabalaba to appear before the committee in person at 9:00 a.m next Wednesday in his capacity as chairman of Haba Group Ltd.
“The fresh summons must be served by police officers for him to appear on Wednesday next week at 9:00 a.m. in person as chairman of Haba Group Ltd,” Nkunyingi said.
The committee also summoned officials from the Bank of Uganda to appear and provide information regarding the Shs140 billion guarantee reportedly issued to Bassajjabalaba’s Haba Group in 2017.
The COSASE committee now seeks explanations on the circumstances under which the guarantee was issued and the requirements attached to it.
