SINGH KATONGOLE - FROM CMI CONTRACTOR TO PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR Parminder Singh Mwaraha Katongole the Ugandan of Indian origin is a top cadre of Musevenis ruling oligarchy. He got close to Museveni through the contract to repair Musevenis dreaded secret service (CMI) during the Mayombo reign. Singh was also one of the few businessmen who would extend soft cash loans to CMI for its operations on interest; the others being some Kikuubo businessmen. Around 2006 Singh was involved in a land row with the family of late Lt. Col. Drago Nyanzi. He is reported to have befriended Col Drago who was his neighbour and the later allowed him to use part of his land for purposes of a garage. Following Col.Dragos death, Singh is reported to have fraudulently gained ownership of the said property. Having become the Deputy National Treasurer of Musevenis ruling party he managed to win the case through influence peddling and bribery. At the time he boosted that he is only answerable to Museveni. He is the chief mobiliser for NRMs financial contributions from the economically powerful Indian community in Uganda. In 2011 he contested for and lost the Rubaga North parliamentary seat amidst intimidation against his opponent by security operatives. changeofguards.blogspot.ca. He petitioned the Magistrates Court for a recount. At the same time the High Court issued an interim order for stay of the recount. The Chief Magistrate Philip Odoki ignored the High Court order and ordered the Returning Officer to carry out a recount in which Singh was declared the winner. The recounting exercise took place amidst intimidation and bribery lasting the whole day and night till 3.00 a.m the following day whereby Singh had been providing all the drinks, food and lighting facilitation. The Electoral Commission was at hand to gazette Singh as the MP elect a few hours immediately after the recounting and the declaration of the new winner.The law mandated the Chief Magistrate to carry out the recount but he instead he had erroneously delegated that responsibility to the Returning Officer. It took the High Court another five months before handing down victory to the rightful winner and Singh ceased to be the M.P. In early Dec 2014 while Museveni was meeting the Indian community in Uganda, Singh in his capacity as the chief mobilizer of the Indian Community in Uganda requested Museveni to consider constitutional recognition of Indian community in Uganda as a tribe. In response, Museveni stated thus Those who have lived for long surely qualify to be Ugandans. ........even the African tribes which are here they all came from somewhere because some are from west Africa (Bantus) and some from the horn of Africa (Tutsis)........... No wonder immediately after the last Christmas Museveni went on a tour of Ethiopia and proposed a railway link with Ethiopia. During the recent Mbabazi conference, Singh was dropped from the position of party Deputy Treasurer and Museveni appointed him Ugandas Ambassador to India. Singh pleaded with Museveni to be left in Kampala so that he could effectively take care of his vast business empire. Museveni accepted and instead appointed him to the newly created position of Senior Presidential Adviser on India Affairs. No wonder its only in Uganda under Museveni where he has powers to create a non-existing position for any of his cronies. INFORMATION IS POWER
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:47:34 +0000
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