In 2007, the Aya brothers acquired land from Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) with the grand promise of building a hotel in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The process began with controversy as UBC was forcefully evicted, leading to important archival material being thrown out in the rain, a situation that had individuals like Tony Owana salvaging these vital documents.
Despite securing the land, Aya struggled to pay consultancy fees amounting to $372,811 in 2007. This financial hurdle came after missing the project delivery deadline for CHOGM.
President Museveni had to step in to prevent the hotel from being attached due to this unpaid amount. This intervention highlighted the discrepancy between the Aya brothers’ claims of liquidity and their inability to pay less than $500,000 to consultants.
Following this, the Aya brothers lived lavishly, borrowing extensively and enjoying luxuries such as the latest German cars and armed guards. Their borrowing included $9.1 million from the South African-owned Industrial Development Corporation. However, the total debt figure being reported has escalated to over $100 million, raising questions about financial management and transparency.
The taxpayer now faces the burden of this debt. President Museveni has committed to rescuing the property, ensuring that taxpayer funds will be used to cover the outstanding amounts. This commitment brings into question the continued financial support for the Aya brothers despite their repeated failures to deliver on promises.
The Aya brothers’ inability to manage the project has been evident since 2007, yet the government has continued to invest in them. This raises concerns about why other deserving entrepreneurs, such as those at Ssembule, do not receive similar support.
The criteria for such government-backed deals remain unclear, but one thing is certain: the taxpayer continues to bear the financial burden of these decisions.
The ongoing saga of the Aya brothers illustrates a broader issue of financial mismanagement and lack of accountability, leaving the Ugandan taxpayer at a disadvantage.
 with the grand promise of building a hotel in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).){kind=link}