Sudhir Ruparelia to Appear Before Parliament Today over Acquisition of Asians’ City Properties

Controversial businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, who also doubles as the Honorary Consul for Nepal to Uganda, is this Tuesday expected to appear before Parliament to explain how he acquired prime properties worth millions of dollars in Kampala.

The properties, whose ownership is now being queried by Parliament’s Statutory Authority and State Enterprises (COSASE), previously belonged to Asians who were chased by Dictator Idi Amin.

COSASE’s investigation was informed by the Departed Asians Custodian Board and a petition by Androna Margaret Kabagenyi, alleging that forged powers of attorney were used to acquire the properties, a claim Sudhir denied.

Sudhir has severally failed to appear before COSASE, prompting warnings from COSASE chairperson, Ibrahim Kasozi, to issue a warrant of arrest for him.

Parliament Clerk Jane Kibirige on June 19, 2020 summoned Sudhir to appear before COSASE.

“This is therefore to notify you (Sudhir) that the said meeting has now been rescheduled to Tuesday 30th June, 2020 at 10:00am in the South Committee room, South Wing, Parliamentary building,” the summons read in part.

The Clerk attached a list of properties Sudhir is required to provide information “relating to the process of acquisition.”

The Parliament Committee requires Sudhir to provide “powers of attorney, letters of administration, certificates of repossession, and a current status report in terms of current tenure and ownership of the contested properties.”

The properties being investigated includes Plot 38 where Crane Chambers is located.

The building houses the main office for Sudhir’s Ruparelia Group of companies and previously hosted Crane Bank which was taken over and sold by Bank of Uganda over alleged mismanagement by its owners.

Sudhir has received fresh summons to appear before Parliament over the contested ownership of prime city properties

 

The structure also hosts Sudhir’s Rosebud Company which exports flowers to European countries; Crane Management Services, Sanyu FM and also the Nepal Consulate in Kampala.

The MPs are also expected to question Sudhir on the acquisition of another prime property located on Plot number 24, Kampala road.

The businessman’s lawyers recently told Parliament their client “has in all instances not purchased any of the said properties from the Departed Asians Custodian Board, which your esteemed committee is inquiring into.”

The custodian board told COSASE that the law under the Expropriated Act states that all unclaimed properties of the former repatriated Asians will be reverted to the government and the government under powers given to the Minister of Finance will deal with the properties under Section 4 and 9 of the Expropriated Properties Act, 1982.

The custodian board gives the example of Plot 20, Kampala Road, which Sudhir’s Meera Investments Ltd was registered on the converted freehold title on March 12, 2012.

“This property was not repossessed, neither was it purchased from government of Uganda since it has no repossession certificate or certificate of purchase from the Ministry of Finance. All these details of certificate are not on record on title,” said the custodian board officials during a recent meeting with COSASE.

“However, Meera Investments Ltd …came on title on 9th May 1996 in a fraudulent manner,” said the Custodian board, adding, “There is no evidence of recorded serial number of certificate of purchase to show from whom the property was acquired or bought. So it is evident that the above property was fraudulently acquired by MEERA Investments by not following the correct procedures. This property is to be listed by Ministry of Finance Departed Asian Properties Custodian Board for sale and disposal.”