Businessman Hassan BasajjabalabaBy Prisca WanyenyaParliament has issued fresh summons to businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba of Habba Group Uganda Limited after he failed to appear before a committee probing the Shs140.487 billion loan guaranteed by Bank of Uganda (BoU) in 2017.The summons was issued by Muwada Nkunyingi (Kyadondo East), Chairperson of the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), on September 16, 2026, after Basajjabalaba’s lawyers, Magna Advocates, requested more time to review documentary evidence.Muwada said the committee would now use police to serve the summons.“We issue summons for Hassan Basajjabalaba, instead of an orderly invitation, so that we capture the element of service. I will move and negate that our summons must be served by a police officer, to avoid the lacuna of service. Let us issue summons served by a police officer for him to appear on Wednesday next week,” Muwada said.Through his lawyers, Basajjabalaba requested to appear on September 23 or 24, 2026. The request drew mixed reactions from MPs, with some supporting an adjournment while others cited his history of snubbing parliamentary summons.In a letter, Magna Advocates wrote: “The subject matter touches transactions dating back to 2009 to 2011 that have been subject to litigation in various courts. Our client who is currently indisposed needs sufficient time to access relevant documents and to be legally guided.”Budadiri East MP Julius Nakiyi asked colleagues to grant more time. “Maybe we can work with the clerk to determine the best time. My opinion is that we give him time to arrange the documents, next week is not far,” he said.Rubanda East MP Bruce Kabaasa faulted the COSASE secretariat for serving summons through lawyers instead of directly.“It may set a very bad way of doing things because Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba is not a minute creature in this country. He’s a leader within the NRM, his address is known. So to be searching as if you’re looking for some micro-peasant in my constituency is a matter we need clarification on,” Kabaasa said.Busongora North MP Kitanywa Sowedi backed an extension: “Basajjabalaba has not said he will not come, but he still needs more time. This case has been pending for nine years, so we need judgments. He confirmed he is aware and will come.”However, Bamunanika County MP Robert Ssekitoleko rejected the appeal, arguing that Magna Advocates had already admitted the matter was subject to litigation and should be well-versed with it.“Other people may think they are exceptional. If we take on that information which is contradicting itself, we need to put stringent terms. Those are men who are making Uganda suffer,” he said.Buzaaya County MP Martin Muzaale cautioned the committee, recalling past conduct.“Even last term, we invited the Chairperson of Habba Group, he downplayed it, and he never appeared before COSASE. So what I see right now has been the same trend. We must be cautious that these are the usual tactics,” Muzaale said.Muwada said while past conduct was noted, the committee would treat each invitation as fresh.“We shall not transact based on what is claimed to have happened in the past, we shall treat every invitation as new and fresh. But we receive information about known conduct,” he said.He then directed the Uganda Police detachment attached to Parliament to serve Basajjabalaba with fresh summons to appear alongside BoU next week, after the Central Bank also sought an extension to study loan documents.“We don’t want them to hide under the cover of absence. Let us adjourn this matter to Wednesday next week, because we had given Bank of Uganda the day,” Muwada ruled.The post Basajjabalaba Snubs Parliament Over Shs140Bn Bad BoU Loan, MPs Order Police to Serve Summons appeared first on Business Focus.