By Otim Nape
Deo Matsanga (54) worked for car importing firm Kampala Modernity, owned by Sironko-hailing tycoon Suleiman Mafabi Lumolo, for a significant part of his adult life. That he did up to mid-December last year when Lumolo directed his expulsion for reasons that were not very clear. Matsanga was early this year diagnosed with a complex blood clot condition which his family and friends are now attributing to the stress the Kampala Modernity mistreatment occasioned to him. “He was fired unexpectedly moreover in the Christmas week and what caused him lots of nervous shock was the fact that Suleiman Lumolo, who fired him through another Director, denied him audience to explain himself. They refused to give him any sendoff package and the whole thing was very embarrassing to someone who had loyally served Lumolo for so many years,” says a family member. “What was even more painful was that the expulsion was done in a manner that was clearly calculated to make happy [Mbale tycoon] Mohamood Masaba with whom dad had been at loggerheads for some time over issues regarding NRM mobilization in Mbale.” It’s alleged that Mohamood had bought two Fortuner vehicles from Kampala Modernity one of which for some time remained with garage number plates (UD 10116) and thereby creating an impression it belonged to State House. In fact many Mbale residents were duped to think that Mohamood works for State House. At some point the failure by this posh vehicle to have the conventional number plate attracted the attention of some URA operatives and this potentially risked causing problems for both Kampala Modernity and the buyer Mohamood. Because of their long running antagonism, the buyer blamed this URA inquisitiveness on Matsanga who was a very influential and well-connected administrator at Kampala Modernity. On the prompting of Mohamood, who is one of the company’s most valued customers (he is wealthy and always brings good deals), Lumolo also bought into this narrative that the URA queries resulted from a disgruntled insider and an accusing finger pointed at Matsanga.
WORST TIMING;
This threat of the potentially very comprehensive URA probe came at a time when the Company wasn’t doing very well. It was struggling with many unpaid or unmet financing obligations and some of the key suppliers or partners were becoming very furious threatening to server links with the Industrial Area Bugoloobi-based car importer. Lumolo had several times met President Museveni (who is the chairman of the NRM party he very much loves and has always generously funded) to seek his intervention to cause the authorities at NRM party headquarters to pay him his money that was long overdue. The man from Sironko, where he has done much for the NRM including constructing and donating the only party’s permanent office in the whole country, had since the days of Amama Mbabazi (as SG) been supplying campaign materials to the NRM party candidates on credit. These included T-Shirts and other campaign panerphaneria and at some point his outstanding balance had stretched to over Shs8bn. Banks and some Chinese partners had over time been taking drastic measures including trying to attach Lumolo’s own residence in Kampala. So in meeting Museveni, he was trying to make the case out and get some quick fixes out of the financial crisis facing his company. Unfortunately, Museveni hasn’t been very helpful: promising to meet him more at some point and denying being aware of those debts at another. It’s alleged that one of the long serving influential bureaucrat at the NRM headquarters connived with one of the Directors to defraud Lumolo on some of the money that was supposed to come from the NRM party. It’s understandable when faced with a situation like this any other mortal businessman wouldn’t react kindly to an employee that is accused of authoring those troubles. Apparently that is the context in which Lumolo acted so furiously, something Matsanga most likely misunderstood thinking the harsh disciplinary procedure taken against him was merely meant to appease Mohamood and retain him as a good customer.
GEN ANGINA TRIES;
“He remains mentally very disturbed that Mohamood who ruthlessly fought him in the Mbale politics resulting in him being sidelined by powerful actors in NRM and security in Kampala again followed him at his work place and was connected to his disgraceful expulsion from the company he had so loyally served,” says a family member. Some say Lumolo could have done this as a measure to cut costs at his company as he was increasingly finding it hard to remunerate his employees. Matters became even more complicated when Lumolo drove to Jinja road police station early this year and reported a case of attempted murder against Matsanga who tells this news website that he became very frightened and felt demonized to learn of a plot to use this Jinja road case to herd him to Luzira where he would be incarcerated for many months or possibly die there. He says it’s CIID Director Grace Akullo who saved him. On the advice of his prayer partner Gen Charles Angina, Matsanga ignored the Jinja road summons (plan was to get him remanded to Luzira) and instead petitioned Akullo who caused the file to be transferred to Kibuli. Matsanga says the Jinja road police bosses then threatened to unleash the much dreaded Flying Squad to hunt for him and herd him to Nalufenya but still Gen Angina’s intervention saved the day. All these naturally greatly traumatized Matsanga and destabilized his health resulting into the blood clot. In a recent interview, Matsanga disclosed to this news website that doctors who diagnosed this blood clot in the leg “told me that the possible causes include being stressed, living in fear, living under pressure etc but God has been faithful and continues to be there for me.” This is how a close friend described the condition of Matsanga who always existed and operated as a very powerful cadre of the NRM in Elgon region: “The problem was the way Lumolo expelled him because having served him for so long, he should have called up Matsanga and sat with him somewhere and explain to him in a courteous way why it was game over. But this didn’t happen. He sent him one of the Directors and efforts to speak to him for clarification as to why this was happening were unsuccessful as Lumolo avoided Matsanga’s phone calls and even shunned all the emissaries who tried to broker peace.” Influential UPDF Gen (ex-D/CDF) Charles Angina is one powerful official who knows very well the history of friendship between Matsanga and Lumolo; both of whom are diehard Museveni NRM supporters in Bugisu. Angina is a close friend to both of them. On being notified of the chaos by Matsanga, Angina offered to mediate and ensure Matsanga regains his job. But Lumolo’s elusiveness thwarted all Angina’s efforts. On the first call they talked well with Lumolo assuring him he was open to negotiations except that he away in Mombasa Kenya personally getting involved in clearing a huge vehicle consignment for his Kampala Modernity. Lumolo promised to look up Angina once he returns to Kampala but he never did so. He subsequently ignored many of Angina’s phone calls prompting the deeply spiritual General from Katakwi to resort to prayers hoping for divine intervention.
BEGGING SPREE:
Having clearly been shunned not only by Lumolo but the entire NRM fraternity, which he served so loyally, Matsanga has since resorted to public begging. Matsanga, who has always joined other rich men for regular morning and evening jogging sessions in the Kololo area, launched his public fundraising on Monday when he sat down with celebrated New Vision society writer Carol Kasujja and poured out his heart. He separately told this news website that the entire hospital bill originally was Shs2.8m but because he couldn’t raise it promptly, time was lost and his condition escalated into a more complicated stage. According to the Carol Kasujja moving story (published on Monday page9 of New Vision), Matsanga has now been advised to seek urgent treatment in India. This means more problems for a man who for weeks failed to raise mere Shs2.8m. He now needs a minimum of Shs100m for the India treatment that will take a surgical operation for the clot to be properly neutralized. The Indian intervention is urgent because it’s the only sure way for Matsanga to save his life or else, according to the Vision story, his family and NRM party could lose him in the coming weeks. Even if the House of Prayer Ministries member (pastored by Bugingo) was to live longer than mere weeks, going to India is the most sustainable way because as of now he daily spends Shs340,000 to buy the strong medication to keep stabilizing his condition. On top of the excruciating pain he is in, Matsanga’s legs are now swollen and the Butabika Zone A resident says every day he wakes up feeling worse. Well-wishers, mostly ordinary NRM supporters, are currently reaching out to help Matsanga through mobile phone numbers (0772457311 & 0703011316). And according to New Vision story, others are depositing financial assistance directly on account number 3110000790 in Centenary Bank.
WHAT HE DID FOR
TYCOON LUMOLO
Knowledgeable sources say that 54 year old Matsanga, who had already shrewdly been operating in Kampala as a quasi-assistant to a number of influential generals and powerful politicians, played a very big role in helping Suleiman Lumolo to consolidate himself as a businessman in Kampala in the early 2000s. Lumolo, who started out as a dealer in the cross border trade, had always traded mostly in upcountry and occasionally came to Kikubo in Kampala to follow his deals. Lumolo had also been partnering with Felix Muloni (hubby to minister Irene) in car importation that had initially not been properly licensed. They used to kuyiriba (operating) under a certain Indian car importer but he kicked them out. This meant getting their own car importation license from URA but because they were not sufficiently networked in Kampala, they needed someone shrewd and connected to overcome the URA resistance. Rashid Lwanga, who later became Director in Kampala Modernity, connected them to Deo Matsanga, the quasi-assistant to many generals and NRM politicians, who was operating in a small office at Sanjay Tana’s Petrol Station on Jinja Road below Parliament main gate. Matsanga, who was familiar brokering such deals, willingly took them to then very powerful PPS Amelia Kyambadde. Amelia, who was always willing to help such cadres and was powerfully respected, contacted URA and the duo got licensed for car importation. Kampala Modernity was then permitted to operate as a car bond. URA had been reluctant because one of the promoters had previously traded in the border areas at a time smuggling was very rampant. They were taking time verifying their past track record. The bond commenced work in 2005 with lots of Amelia’s backing that was procured by Matsanga. This apparent association to State House brought them a lot of good will as many wealthy NRM cadres took them seriously and often bought from them. Before incorporating Kampala Modernity, the duo operated as Trans Sahara Ltd where late Basoga Nshadu had also been involved at some point. His death was a major setback for them. Upon incorporation, Felix Muloni sold his interest and left Lumolo to soldier on alone. Things weren’t easy yet he needed a cheaper rentable place to operate from. Matsanga’s contacts came in handy connecting to the Fairway family that owns Plot 4/5 Wankoko road which houses Kampala Modernity up to this day. Operating from here, Lumolo has made big car sales and established himself as a leading car dealer and his tenancy relationship with the Fairway family has only blossomed.
ENJOYING NEKESA;
It’s this successful tycoon, partly made by Matsanga, that former Museveni Minister the very beautiful Barbra Nekesa crushed on Lumolo and moved in with him barely two years ago. She was struggling having acrimoniously lost her Busia woman MP Seat. The two have continued enjoying life together, getting a child in the process, and even as she reported for duty in South Africa where she serves as Ambassador, Nekesa carried along Suleiman Lumolo and introduced him as spouse and shrewd businessman to Jacob Zuma as she presented her credentials as a newly posted diplomat.
TIGER HEAD DEAL;
In 2007/8, Lumolo’s business life nearly plummeted after powerful business actors ganged up to financially finish him off regarding the Tiger Head dry batteries dealership. Understood to have Minister Sam Kutesa’s backing, tycoon Bob Kabonero and his Showman partners tried to use the government structure to monopolize Tiger Head batteries importation into the country. With gigantic Tiger Head stores in Kikubo, Lumolo had just entered the business and it was going very lucratively for him. Matsanga, whom he had by now given a job as administrator at Kampala Modernity, still came in handy. He became the proxy often signing off petitions as the chairman of the aggrieved importers that risked being killed off business if the pro-Kabonero directive succeeded. Amelia advised the group to petition the President directly who intervened and through all this battle, Matsanga always acted as Lumolo’s proxy. He got KACITA’s very talkative Issa Sekito to join the battle denouncing the ban. Lumolo, who didn’t want to blow his cover, would always be in the background as Matsanga endured the front line. Janet Mukwaya was Trade minister and her resistance was broken through a media campaign that Matsanga coordinated on Lumolo’s behalf. In the end, the ban was broken and Lumolo once again had the license to import directly from Guangzhou China. A grateful Lumolo began introducing Matsanga to many more business partners. As administrator at Kampala Modernity, Matsanga would take inventory of how many cars arrived, were in or were sold in which period. He would also be the contact person for other car dealers that sublet from Kampala Modernity.
BECOMES UNWANTED;
That was always the situation until December 2017 when Lumolo called the three other Directors (Charles Egesa, Abdullah Jeffery & Rashid Lwanga) to an impromptu meeting in Kololo. Matsanga was summoned towards the end of the meeting and showed a letter he is supposed to have written to the President blowing the whistle on what hasn’t been going well at the company. The letter made reference to Mohamood Mafabi accusing him of many things including questioning why the two cars he had recently bought from Kampala Modernity weren’t having URA number plates. Mohamood’s cars were shown in the letter to have the following number plates: UD10116 Fortuner Pearl White and UAP 722 Fortuner black in color. The letter, whose authorship Matsanga denied, questioned why the Pearl White Fortuner still carried the garage number plate two years after leaving the bond. “Now see what you have caused. Mohamood, who is our good customer, is being investigated over cars he bought from us,” one of the Directors told a tearful Matsanga in the meeting. He was dismissed with Lumolo wishing him well. Three days to Christmas day (22nd December), Director Jeffery rang Matsanga and told him: “I’m sorry this is a message from chairman [Lumolo]. He says it was nice working with you and says don’t return next year.” Matsanga, who hadn’t even been paid anything for Christmas, asked what management thought about his retirement package and Jeffery told him he had no idea. He immediately followed up on this matter after Christmas prompting Lumolo to report to Jinja road police claiming Matsanga wanted to kill him. This is how stress and trauma multiplied condemning Matsanga to his current health situation during which Lumolo has continued ignoring him as he enjoys his new wife Barbra Oundo Nekesa whose resigned Seeta-based husband has also since moved on with another woman. Efforts to speak to Lumolo were futile as he characteristically never took our calls. Neither did he respond to text messages seeking his views on the Matsanga saga. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
