By Stephen Kalema
The sad news of the passing of city tycoon Charles Muhangi’s has left the entire sporting and business community shell shocked.
Muhangi, a former car rally driver was found dead on Thursday morning at his home in Buziga.
Those hit the hardest however, seem to be tenants of Qualicell, a building Muhangi had just recovered from another city tycoon Drake Lubega.
Upon entry at into the building Thursday afternoon, one was greeted by total sadness, with most tenants avoiding customers because of ‘fear of what was to happen next.’
According to Charles Anzima, a shoe dealer and a tenant, Muhangi’s death was ‘a total tragedy which has hit the entire properties he owned’.
Anzima said “When Muhangi took over this building, sanity was restored. Our rent fees were reduced to different percentages and everybody was very happy. He might have been bad to others but to us he has been a survivor.”
Asher Mugume, a transport officer with Trinity Bus Company whose offices are located on Qualicel building, said that if there is tenant celebrating Muhangi’s death, then they have a problem because the late businessman was ‘fighting’ for them.
“Muhangi was going to change this place. December was a rent free month. We were to resume paying rent next year. Now we do not know our fate,” said Mugume.
Siraje Dungu, a boda boda cyclist who been stationed at Qualicel bus terminal stage for 17 years, told Watchdog that most tenants on Qualicel were not crying because of Muhangi’s death but because of the fear of what lies ahead.
“Is the new landlord going to treat them the say way Muhangi did?” he asked.
He, however, urged government to come in and solve the problems surrounding the said property.
“Government knows clearly why Muhangi, Lubega and Mansor Matovu are fighting for this land. I think this is the right time for government to take control of this property to save these tenants,” said Dungu.
On theories surrounding Muhangi’s death – such as being bewitched by his rivals – Dungu said Muhangi has for a long time been sickly.
“Because our society is clouded by the witchcraft mentality, many believe he was poisoned, or bewitched but me I believe he has died a normal death because he has been sick,” said Dungu.
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