BMK built it with his money! – Colorado Nsubuga rejects Buziga property claims

When Bulaimu Muwanga Kibirige (BMK) passed away in September 2021, Uganda lost one of its most iconic businessmen—a self-made entrepreneur whose tenacity and vision built a multi-billion-shilling empire.

From Hotel Africana to a diverse portfolio in real estate, construction, and tourism, BMK’s business acumen was widely admired. But four years after his passing, his legacy is overshadowed by courtroom battles, property disputes, and allegations of financial mismanagement within his family.

At the center of the controversy is the minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, who is attempting to recover Shs 1.5 billion from BMK’s son, Haruna Kalule Muwanga.

The minister has moved to take over a high-value apartment block in Buziga, arguing that Haruna borrowed money years ago but failed to repay it. This attempt has triggered a wave of speculation and outrage from those close to BMK, who argue that the property remains legally protected under the estate.

Balaam’s debt claim and the Buziga property 

What initially started as a Shs 1 billion loan has grown to Shs 1.59 billion due to  accumulated interest. Balaam insists he has made efforts to engage the BMK family but has been met with silence. In response, Nsubuga Colorado, a longtime friend of BMK, has fiercely defended the late businessman’s estate, arguing that Balaam has no rightful claim to the Buziga apartments.

“Those apartments sit on Buganda Land Board property under a leasing project. BMK built them 100 per cent with his own money and made sure they were left under Muwanga Holdings Limited so nobody could touch them,” Nsubuga explained.

According to Nsubuga, the root of the crisis lies with Haruna Kalule Muwanga, who allegedly took out large loans using forged land titles as collateral. Haruna, who was in charge of BMK Group’s construction division, reportedly secured a lucrative Shs 25 billion project in Northern Uganda under the ministry of Health.

Believing he would make a huge profit, he decided to finance the project independently but failed to consult the estate’s caretakers.

“He used his father’s properties—without approval— including the family house in Naguru, BMK House, and the Buziga apartments,” Nsubuga revealed. Unfortunately, the deal collapsed, leading to crippling losses. With banks and private lenders demanding repayment, the family found itself in a legal and financial nightmare.

“No one in the family knew about what Haruna had done until the banks started knocking on the door,” Nsubuga added.

Faced with mounting debts, the family argued in court that the loans were taken out by Haruna personally, not BMK Holdings, making them fraudulent transactions.

A son in hiding, a family in crisis

In the wake of the scandal, Haruna has reportedly gone into hiding, leaving the family to deal with the fallout.

“The young man has since disappeared and remains in hiding to date,” Nsubuga confirmed. His disappearance has added another layer of complexity to the dispute. With Balaam pushing for public auctioning of the Buziga property, family members insist that Buganda Land Board has placed a caveat on the land, preventing any further transactions.

“Balaam cannot take the apartment as seen in the video. The title is in safe hands, and, most importantly, the land belongs to Buganda Land Board; so, Balaam is getting nothing but air,” Nsubuga argued.

Despite the chaos, the BMK family has been slowly paying off debts to protect other properties from being seized.

Lessons from BMK’s estate battle 

BMK’s family crisis serves as a cautionary tale for Ugandan entrepreneurs. While placing assets under Muwanga Holdings Limited may have protected parts of his estate, the lack of oversight over individual family financial dealings has led to exploitation and legal threats.

With multiple parties involved, including the family, Balaam, banks, and Buganda Land Board—the future of BMK’s properties remains uncertain.

For now, the family’s focus is on defending what remains of BMK’s empire, but the bigger question remains: Will his legacy survive, or will it be lost to court battles and financial mismanagement?