A moneylender in the central district of Mubende might just have topped the bill in the shark game after allegedly operating a detention facility to deal with his defaulting clients.
Vianey Kalihuungu, also known as Nzabale, upstaged the shark, literally, to become more than just the dreaded marine carnivorous fish, according to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Mubende District, Al-Hajj Umar Lule Mawiya.
Mr Mawiya on Thursday directed Mubende police to arrest Nzabale, from Kakwamango Parish in Bagezza Sub-county, for allegedly running an illegal detention facility at his home.
Earlier on Thursday, residents from several sub-counties in Kassambya Constituency, alongside their local leaders, approached the RDC’s office seeking justice.
They accused Nzabale of harassment by way of charging abnormal interest rates and of detaining those unable to fully repay their debts.
“We are here with many challenges and fears because Kalihuungu has detained people who have partially paid off their debts,” Amos Bukiiko pleaded with the RDC.
“Mr RDC, I want to tell you that this man detained me, and when I paid him Shs1.2 million, he gave me a receipt for only Shs800,000.”
Henry Muhumuza, a resident of Kigando Sub-county, added that in 2018, Kalihuungu detained Justus Twesigye, a boda boda rider from Kigando.
“This is not the first time Kalihuungu has detained people at his home. We request the RDC’s office to intervene because this man does not fear anyone,” he said.
Other residents told the RDC that Kalihuungu had confiscated land titles as collateral and refused to return them, even after full loan repayment.
“We have a case of a woman named Birungi, who gave him a land title for 10 acres. To date, he has refused to return it, despite the loan being repaid,” said Vincent Tumusiime Kissanja, a district councillor for Kassambya Town Council.
Kalihuungu denied the allegations, stating, “Mr RDC, these people are lying. I have never detained anyone or confiscated anyone’s property; as Tuungane, we operate within the law.”
Nzabale operates under the tradename Tuungane Investments Limited.
RDC Mawiya ordered Kalihuungu to produce legal documentation for his company. After reviewing the documents, the RDC found that Kalihuungu lacked the required legal papers and ordered his arrest for further investigation.
“I want the police to arrest this man and investigate these allegations. We cannot allow him to operate illegally,” added the RDC.
Kalihuungu is currently detained at Mubende Central Police Station.
The Nile Post could not independently verify the claims of the former clients but Police have opened investigations into the alleged illegal detention facility.
