{UAH} Sudhir gives Shs 3bn for NRM house

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/38495-sudhir-gives-shs-3bn-for-nrm-house

Sudhir gives Shs 3bn for NRM house

Written by Sadab Kitatta Kaaya

Last Updated: 29 June 2015

Sudhir Ruparelia and NRM chairman Museveni

For two days last week, President Museveni and First Lady Janet stood at the steps of State House Entebbe and invited one businessman/woman after another for for a handshake.

The guest would then take the microphone and declare a donation to the ruling party. By the end of the exercise, Museveni had collected Shs 16bn, mostly for the construction of the proposed NRM house.

According to sources familiar with the fundraising event, the NRM chairman himself donated 200 cows, worth Shs 400m.

The donors to the fundraiser were carefully selected by NRM Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba and Treasurer Rosemary Namayanja. Some guests are connected to government parastatals, but it was not clear in which capacity they were at Entebbe.

The Thursday group included prominent businessmen such as Sudhir Ruparelia, Charles Mbiire, Karim Hirji and Patrick Bitature. From this smaller group, Museveni was able to get Shs 13.4bn. The bigger Friday group mainly had city traders, who donated Shs 2.6bn.

"We looked for a specific class of the society, that is the business community, some of whom have been supporting us [NRM] in various activities," Namayanja said on Saturday.

NRM remained tight-lipped on who the rest of the donors were, but Ruparelia confirmed he contributed Shs 3bn in a text message to The Observer on Saturday. Sources said Mbiire donated Shs 300m, while Bitature and Karim each gave Shs 100m.

Namayanja said the party will soon hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the delayed building project, whose first fundraiser was held in 2012.

 "The past leadership [led by Amama Mbabazi] did not work on the land title but we have now secured it, and we are now working on the project concept for construction to begin," she said.

Speaking on Thursday, FDC lawyer Yusuf Nsibambi accused the president of abuse of office by involving government parastatals in a partisan activity; but Namayanja said all people were invited in their private capacity.
sadabkk@observer.ug

Sudhir gives Shs 3bn for NRM house

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/38495-sudhir-gives-shs-3bn-for-nrm-house

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