Former State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Isaac Musumba has been sent to prison over failure to pay a debt of more than 160 million shillings.
Musumba was on Wednesday sent to prison by the Commercial Court following several warrants of arrest issued against him. His troubles stem from the failure to pay the money he borrowed from Charles Wakwale in 2023 promising to pay back within four days in vain.
According to Wakwale’s lawyer Dick Kisira, Musumba has been elusive and whenever he would promise to pay, he would say he is out of the country.
He said, his client Wakwale was forced to file a commercial suit against the former minister.
Records indicate that Lady Justice Patience Tumusiime Rubagumya ruled in favour of Wakwale and directed Musumba to pay back the money he borrowed.
According to the records, Musumba was also ordered to pay the legal costs to Wakwale ‘s lawyers.
Following the warrants of arrest, Lawyer Kisira said that Musumba appeared in court after realizing that there were intentions to arrest him and bring him before the Court forcefully.
In Court, Musumba stated that he had brought 10 million shillings in cash and requested to be given a 21-day grace period to pay the remaining balance.
However, Wakwale objected to this fearing that the Minister would run away and evade the Court as it has been in the past.
Consequently, he was ordered to go to Luzira Prison as a Civil Prisoner for six months or pay the money in question to be released.
Since the commercial court doesn’t have prison officers, Musumba had requested to drive himself to the nearby Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court to Board the ever-waiting Luzira Prison Bus.
But, the Court objected and ordered the Police at the Commercial to escort him in Wakwale ‘s vehicle to avoid any possible chance of the Minister escaping.
He was later kept at Buganda Road Court Cells awaiting to be driven alongside other accused persons to Luzira.
Source: URN