Many people are baffled howKampalacity business mogul Hassan Basajjabalaba fights with city vendors over the management of markets such as St. Balikudembe, Nakasero and Shauriyaako markets.  We have heard million of Ugandans allege that truly Basajjabalaba is interested in taking over the daily administration of city markets.

We bet. Basajjabalaba no longer has interests in running the city markets. He can even run mad if the vendors, or Kampala Capital City Authority or the government ofUgandapardons him to run any of the markets inUganda.

We have been told by the circles in government who know and do businesses with Hassan Basajjabalaba that the business tycoon applies for tenders to run the city markets. He coughs money to all people concerned including councilors and political heads to ensure that the tender to run the markets is given to him or any of his companies.

Basajjabalaba is very aware that the vendors are going to cough fire and he sometimes reportedly sponsors some of them to resist his take over of the market. As usual the government or the president has to come in to save the arrived traders.  For example, when the president rules that the market should be given back to the traders to run it, Basajjabalaba runs to court to sue government over the loss.  He goes there when he is aware that he has to win the case. He might have used one or two billionUgandashillings to acquire the lease to run a certain market. But when he files for compensation he demands over 140 million shillings. He colludes with the government officials concerned to ease the payments.

So when you hear that the MPs want the two ministers Syda Bbumba (Gender) and Khiddu Makubuya (general duties) sacked for paying Basajjabalaba whooping 156 billion shillings as compensation for the loss of city markets, don’t rise eye borrows. They are making cash.

By Walakira Nyanzi