
KAMPALA — Nakawa Court has ruled that city businessman Shukla Babubhai Mukesh, aka Shumuk, fraudulently acquired Hotel Diplomate in Muyenga suburb— citing forgeries.
The hotel has been a subject of a long standing dispute in court between Shumuk and former consular of Pakistan in Uganda Boney Mwebesa Katatumba (now deceased) and his family over ownership of Hotel Diplomate in Muyenga suburb.
Mr. Shumuk, the executive director of Shumuk Aluminum Industries has since been ordered to immediately vacate it and pay the family UGX10 billion in damages.
Court confirmed that the businessman forged a document purporting it to be a court judgment and official report of handing over the hotel to him.
Court found the business tycoon guilty of forging signatures of widow Grace Katatumba and children Angela, Rugirwa, Ian and ASP George William Karyegira.
The Judge, who had no kind words for the businessman, ordered him to key among others; put back in the names of HE. Prof Boney Katatumba three titles of Hotel Diplomats, Band Island and Katatumba suites that he fraudulently acquired and put in his names. The judge also permanent barred the businessman from going to both facilities.
Since 2008, the Katatumba family has been embroiled in a protracted legal battle for the multibillion property with Mr Shumuk.
They include a building in a prime city area on Plot 2 Colville Street in Kampala; Hotel Diplomate in Muyenga and Katatumba Banda Island which had been transferred to Shumuk’s business empire.