8 NEW VISION, Tuesday, June 5, 2018 NATIONAL NEWS Benedicto Kiwanuka home demolished

By Eddie Ssejjoba

The family residence of the first chief minister of Uganda, Benedicto Kiwanuka has been razed after his heir, Maurice Kagimu Kiwanuka, failed to pay money he borrowed from money lenders. The demolition has left the residents of Ben Kiwanuka Zone, Nalukolongo in Rubaga division extremely bitter with Kagimu for bringing shame and destroying the legacy of his father who led Uganda to self-government.   The home, located in Ben             Kiwanuka Zone on the    Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba Ndeeba-Nateete road, on the                    outskirts of Kampala city, was                     built in the early 1960s and first Ugandans to practice as an Kiwanuka’s burial site is still acted as Kiwanuka’s residence, advocate. He was the second unknown. of the nation and democratic until he was kidnapped and president general of DP. He was taken from his high rule’’. Deo Matovu, the former area chairman, said he changed murdered during the Idi Amin A few years ago, he was court chambers by security Kagimu had rented the home the village’s name from Mawiya to Ben Kiwanuka zone regime in September 1972. recognised as one of Uganda’s operatives reportedly on to South Sudan nationals. as a sign of respect for the man who died for the rule of The residence was just a heroes. Amin’s orders and murdered. Kagimu is former MP for law. stone’s throw away from that Kiwanuka is said to have Bukomansimbi, former “Now, Kiwanuka’s history is gone for good,” he said. of former Democratic Party left behind a vast estate (    Minister of State for Economic Matovu appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to (DP) president general Paul with several buildings in the Over the weekend, workers, Monitoring and also Uganda’s intervene and save Kiwanuka’s legacy. Kawanga Ssemogerere. city, which have since been on the instruction of a money former ambassador to Another resident, Rose Anderson, who said she used to Ben Kiwanuka led Uganda disposed of. lender descended on the home Switzerland. play with Kiwanuka’s children when she was young and from March 1961 until October The residence was flattened and demolished it, to the shock Yesterday, he declined to had fond memories of the home, said: “The entire village 1962, when the country and what remains is the of residents, DP supporters speak on the matter, saying is in great shock and pain. I do not know what happened attained independence. tiled grave of Kiwanuka’s and people who cherished he would give his written to his children, Max and Regina. They should have saved Kiwanuka was also one of the widow, Maxensia Zalwango. Kiwanuka’s legacy as ‘‘father response later. the house.” The demolition of the residence started on Friday      and continued through to Sunday, when the labourers cut down all the trees in the name could not be established, Lukwago, the family lawyer, vast compound, pulled down had been mounting pressure said he was shocked by the the fence and ferried away all on Kagimu to pay back the demolition. movable items. money he lent to him to fund “I feel sad that his legacy has As the demolition went on, his election campaign during been washed down the drain. some DP supporters went and the 2016 general election. I wish Kagimu had informed collected some of the items, It is said Kagimu at first us. We would have fought to FINANCIAL NEWS REPORT including documents, books, borrowed sh600m and later save Kiwanuka’s face, but I tins and other unique items. received an additional sh400m. learnt of it after the house Some of Kiwanuka’s fans As collateral, he reportedly had been brought down,” begged to buy some of the surrendered the land titles Lukwago said. items that were being ferried for the family residence and Lukwago only managed away, including bricks, to keep the commercial building in to tow away the remnant of in memory of the first chief Ndeeba called Big Ways. Kiwanuka’s car, a Mercedes minister who is renowned for It was not yet clear whether Benz, UVD 325, to Wakaliga his principles. it was because of the loans Police Post. New Vision learnt that that Kagimu recently met Lukwago said he wanted to Zalwango’s remains were President Yoweri Museveni, in give it a facelift and hand it scheduled to be exhumed and the company of the Archbishop over to the Uganda Museum. taken for burial at the family of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Last year, there were media ancestral home in Kisaabwa, Lwanga. reports that family members Bukomansimbi district. were up in arms against Local leaders said for some   Kagimu, over ownership of the time, the money lender, whose The Lord Mayor, Erias family estate.

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