By Keefa Nuwahereza
David Bahati, the Minister for Economic Planning, ordered for the arrest of a journalist identified as Ronald Bagyenda after he posted the ‘State House’ like crib which the Minister allegedly built in Kabale district.
The swanky multibillion crib which led to Bagyenda’s arrest is located in Ndorwa East constituency, which the Minister also represents as Member of Parliament.
However, apart from Minister Bahati, there are several other celebrities, tycoons and government officials who own swanky cribs that are worth hundreds of millions of shillings who we have unveiled in this first part of the Elite Rich List. They include but are not limited to the following;
Sudhir Ruparelia
Officially, Dr Sudhir’s home, is called The Ruparelia Residence and it sits on Plot 9 Kawalya Kaggwa Road, Kololo. The house has 4 levels. Built up area is 9,000 square meters while parking, gardens and swimming pool, consists of another 4,000 square meters- altogether a total of 13,000 square meters.
The House has 16 bedrooms- 8 for staff and 8 for the Ruparelia Family. The 8 bedrooms of the Ruparelia Family. It cost USD10 million to design, build, equip and fit.
Godfrey Kirumira
Despite owning two bungalows for each of his wives, Kirumira recently unveiled a palatial mansion located on Buziga Hill which is said to be his retirement home. The crib, valued at Shs1.8Bn comes complete with a swimming pool, parking lot and a spacious compound.
Hamis Kiggundu
Despite his youthful age, tycoon Ham owns one of the biggest mansions in Uganda, which sits on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kawuku-Gaba. The house, valued at USD5M, has spacious gardens, an Olympic size swimming pool, Jacuzzi, basketball court, a movie theatre, plus several other facilities.
Tom Kitandwe
This one a Kikuubo businessman with several buildings in Kampala Central Business District. He owns a multimillion posh residence seated on a mile land 47 Miles along Mityana Road, worth over Shs800m. Kitandwe, whose wealth is in the excess of USD10M, started as a wheat agent in Kikuubo. His buildings include Giant Shopping Arcade in Kikuubo, Nakasero Complex on Nakivubo Road, Mid City Arcade on Nakivubo Road and Mackay Building on Old Rashid Khamis Road near New Taxi Park.
Alex Masaba Wekesa
This one is a renowned businessman who is the proprietor of Great Safaris Limited, which was a thriving business venture before the onset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. He has one of the swankiest cribs in Makindye, Kampala.
Pastor Aloysious Bugingo
He is the lead pastor at House of Prayer Ministries in Makerere. However, being a humble man of God, Bugingo raised eyebrows among several Ugandans after he built a multibillion mansion for his new lover Susan Nantaba, which is located in Wakiso. The plush mansion sits of about 4 acres and is said to be worth Shs2.2Bn.
NRM’s Dr. Tanga Odoi
Dr. Tanga Odoi, who is the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Electoral Commission chairman is reaping big, is linked to a massive crib Kisaasi-Kyanja, a Kampala suburb, worth around Shs800m. The structure, which houses several apartments, is seated on a big chunk of land but neighbours in the area reveal that ever since its construction started, Tanga has been spotted visiting and inspecting the site several times, and he often shows keen interest in the progress at the building.
Mesarch Ssemakula
He is one of the directors of Golden Band, formerly Eagles Production. Ssemakula is one of the wealthiest musicians in Uganda and owns a multimillion bungalow in Makindye which sits on a big stretch of land.
Hellen Lukoma
She is one of the female musicians with the best houses in Uganda after Lukoma unveiled posh crib located in Makindye, which was reportedly constructed by her current lover identified as Sadat Anwar.
Minster Gen. Elly Tumwine
Gen. Tumwine, who is the minister for security, is another government official with a monster crib apart from Kibuule.
Located in Kiruhura district, Tumwine’s crib, which has exotic designs and facilities, is estimated at over Shs2Bn.
Gen Tumwine has different homes; one is in Kinuuka Lyantonde district where he has farms and another one is in Rwemikoma Kiruhura district where he put his tourist house.
Fred Kiyimba aka Freeman
This one is city businessman and official of the Mmengo establishment, who sleeps in a multibillion crib in Lungujja, with over 20 rooms.
Mike Mukula
The former Minister who is also a top National Resistance Movement (NRM) honcho, owns a palatial residence in Bugolobi, a high-end city suburb. Mukula’s ‘White House’ as it was nicknamed by pals, is a two-in-one bungalow with a swimming pool, gardens, well-kept laws and a sauna.
Minister Ronald Kibuule
Kibuule, who is the State minister for Water Resources, sleeps in huge house that can only be described as a castle. Seated on 5 acres of land, the expansive building, which is estimated at around Shs4Bn, is located in Mbalala-Mukono along the Jinja- Kampala highway.