Birungi had previously asked not to reveal Toyota’s name in public but when cornered further, he seemingly forgot and mentioned Toyota as the lead broker. He had also named a one Ibanda as the other broker.
The chairperson of the Commission, Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire was armed with information to show that the members of the first family and particularly Toyota were involved in influencing the process that eventually led to the demolition of a government building.
“Can you be true to yourself that you used Toyota to make sure that this was done? From what counsel told us, the name was read. You, yourself read a statement to the IGG. You made a statement; you met Toyota when you were beginning this deal. And those witnesses from Jinja told us that; you were greatly feared, because they said, you had the president’s family backing behind you. And no wonder they said so; because the name Toyota is in your document”, Bamugemereire said.
But Birungi still insisted that he had only gone for consultations when he met Toyota. Birungi said he knowingly took over the building – knowing that there were tenants but he did not negotiate or compensate them before the eviction.
He further said that two brokers asked him to give them a commission of Shs 70 million for them to process for him a lease. Jinja municipality had granted Uganda Land Commission a 99-year lease for the said property originally owned and under the African Trade Development Fund (ATDF)
Birungi said that a letter of no objection was granted to him by the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry within three days after meeting Michael Nuwagira aka Toyota in Jinja.
The Education Service Commission undersecretary, Emmanuel Olauna Orum, formerly undersecretary at Ministry of Trade on Wednesday this week told the Commission that he was under pressure from Major General Kahinda Otafiire to have him sign a letter of no objection.
Orum told the Commission that he had been driven by a Birus agent who has turned out to be Toyota. The two reportedly made the trip to Jinja on a public holiday outside working hours.
He declined to name the Birus Properties agent but revealed the name in camera. The agent, Orum declined to name has turned out to be Michael Nuwagira or Toyota as he is popularly known.
Police officers, Apollo Kateeba and others now on suspension too feared to mention Toyota’s name when they appeared before the commission early this week. The four officers were later suspended by the inspector general of police Kale Kayihura when he too appeared before the Commission.
The Commission found out that Birus has not yet acquired an occupation permit for the building though it already has tenants in it.
Justice Bamugemereire wondered whether the tenants in the new building are not in danger to occupy a building whose occupation has not yet been approved.
“You oiled the system so much that the District Council of Jinja sat and had a special resolution to have this ‘investor of the year’ come and evict and demolish a historic building. You were so powerful that; you caused a whole head of the Land Protection Unit to alter a court order.
You are so connected that you caused the late [police spokesperson Andrew Felix] Kaweesi to break every rule and make his officers obey unlawful orders. You thought that it was okay, now that the late [former minister of Internal Affairs Aronda] Nyakairima had died, you could start rebuilding. I want you to tell this Commission, do you have a lease right now to be in that building? You don’t have a lease”, said Bamugemereire.
Birungi begun to soften his stance as Bamugemereire continued to talk tough and unload a barrage of questions. Indeed, Birungi later admitted that Toyota abused the system with exceptional impunity.
“Do you have an occupation permit to be in that building? Did you have rights to break a government building? Did you have a right to corrupt government officials to make them act like your little…you know…puppeteers and you’re the master puppeteer? They were like puppeteers on the string and they were dancing to your tune”, Bamugemereire said.
Adding: “Can you give this Commission one reason why we should think that you have any right to be in that building? In one sentence, one! Why you should be there? You don’t have a lease, you don’t have title, you don’t have an occupation title. You have been bribing everybody along the way. Why are you still there?”
Birungi simply answered: “I do not have an answer my lord”.
But Bamugemereire was not done yet.
“And you are right not to have an answer…You cannot let this type of illegality to continue in a country that has law and order. Do you think it is right in your country, in your world, wherever you come from to have this kind of disorderly behaviour?”, she said.
Toyota has in the past been accused of perpetuating land grabbing in Buikwe district. He is currently engaged in another land wrangle involving tenants in Amber court Jinja where he wants to evict tenants in a building formerly owned by a power company located opposite Nalufenya police.
