Uganda government through the Registrar General’s office has come out to clarify on the ownership of two companies; Leaf Tobacco and Commodities Limited and and Meridian Tobacco Company Limited.
In a statement exclusively seen by this website, issued Wednesday, Mr. Bemanya Twebaze, who heads Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) said he had learnt of misinformation on the shareholding of the two named firms.
“It has come to our attention that some individuals are peddling misinformation about the status and shareholding in Leaf Tobacco & Commodities Ltd; and Meridian Tobacco Company Ltd,” part of the statement reads.
Bemanya adds; “It is alleged, among others that, Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho Salim Saleh, rtd. is a shareholder in both companies.”
According to records kept by the Registrar of Companies at URSB, the two entities are corporate bodies, registered/incorporated under the Companies Act, laws of Uganda, as limited liability Companies. Leaf Tobacco & Commodities Ltd is registered as a Foreign owned Company, while Meridian Tobacco Company Ltd is incorporated as a foreign Company owned by two persons, none of whom is Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho Salim Saleh, rtd.
Salim Saleh
URSB therefore clarified that Gen. Saleh is not and has never been a shareholder nor a Director in the said two Companies.
Bemanya urges the public to make use of his office by using the available data to carry out searches as and when it is required before propagating falsehoods.
The two companies are subsidiaries of huge establishments belonging to a Rwandan business Tribert Rujugiro who conducts business in Africa and across the world.
His presence in Uganda however, has irked his home government after Rwandan President Paul Kagame openly accused Rujugiro of funding dissidents to overthrow him from power.
Kigali then asked Uganda to shut Rujugiro’s business, arrest and handle over him to Rwanda, a suggestion Uganda has since brushed off.
President Museveni, who acknowledged to have talked to Rujugiro said the businessman challenged Rwanda to provide evidence that he was supporting RNC rebels led by Kayumba Nyamwasa.
Further Rwanda needs to convince Uganda that once Rujugiro is kicked out he will not fund the group since he has businesses operating across the continent.
Against that backdrop, information began filtering in that a top General in the UPDF who later turned to be Salim Saleh was a partner of Rujugiro, An allegation URSB has Wednesday refuted by proving evidence.
