(Mubende) – A moneylender from Mubende District, Vianey Kalihuungu, also known as Nzabale, has been arrested following accusations that he operated an illegal detention facility at his home to deal with clients unable to repay their loans. The allegations surfaced after a group of residents from the Kassambya Constituency, along with local leaders, approached the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for assistance.
According to the RDC for Mubende District, Al-Hajj Umar Lule Mawiya, Kalihuungu, who operates under the tradename Tuungane Investments Limited, allegedly detained clients who had failed to fully repay their loans, with some residents claiming they were held even after paying part of their debts. One local resident, Amos Bukiiko, claimed he was detained after paying Shs1.2 million of his debt but was only given a receipt for Shs800,000.
Further accusations were made by Henry Muhumuza from Kigando Sub-county, who stated that in 2018, Kalihuungu detained a boda boda rider, Justus Twesigye, for a similar issue. Other residents reported that Kalihuungu had seized land titles as collateral for loans and refused to return them, even after the debts had been paid off. One such case involved a woman named Birungi, who reportedly gave Kalihuungu a land title for 10 acres but had yet to receive it back despite repaying the loan.
Kalihuungu, however, denied all allegations, insisting that he had never detained anyone or confiscated any property. He stated, “As Tuungane, we operate within the law.”
The RDC, after hearing the complaints, ordered Kalihuungu to present legal documentation for his business. Upon review, it was found that Kalihuungu did not have the required legal papers for operating as a moneylender. As a result, the RDC instructed the police to arrest Kalihuungu for further investigation.
Kalihuungu is currently being held at Mubende Central Police Station while investigations into the alleged illegal detention facility continue. Police are working to verify the claims made by Kalihuungu’s former clients.
| Accusations | Details |
|---|---|
| Detaining defaulting clients | Residents claim Kalihuungu detained individuals who had partially repaid debts. |
| Confiscating land titles | Some residents accused Kalihuungu of keeping land titles even after loans were paid in full. |
| Operating without legal papers | Kalihuungu was found to be operating without the required legal documentation. |
| Arrest and investigation | Kalihuungu was arrested by the police for further investigation into the claims. |
