KAMPALA- The Fiditis Group of Companies boss is caught up in US $40, 000 rent arrears and threatening his landlady, MediaScape News can exclusively from the Commercial Court in Kampala.
These figures are as of 4 June 2021.
Fiditis Group is owned by rally maintenance engineer and Cyprus national, Chritakis Fiditis and the house he resides in is located in Luzira and belongs to an orphaned young girl Sheila Kobusingye whose father that was murdered over two decades ago, left it in her names when she was a toddler.
Her father, Aloysius Nyakwarwana, worked with then Kampala City Council in the 1990s as a chief internal auditor but was murdered while he worked on a presidential commission of inquiry into corruption in the eastern districts of Mbale and Tororo in 1997.
Background
3 years ago, Christakis entered a tenancy agreement with the landlady, Sheila Kobusingye, to occupy property on LRV 2530 Folion 6 Plot 71 Chorley Crescent, Luzira. According to the agreement we have seen, Christakis was to pay US$ 1000 per month with a default period being 15 days. “That the deadline for payment shall be the 15th day of the month…” part of the agreement reads.
By the end of May 2021, rent due for the period of 3 years was US$ 87, 000 dollars. US$ 56, 000 had been paid, leaving a balance of US$ 31, 000. However, it has since grown to US$ 40, 000 as of May 2021.
But Christakis, through his lawyers of Bainomugisha and Company Advocates claim he made repairs on the property, which repairs he says amounts to US$ 20, 000.
Chritakis says he repaired toilets, carried out electrical wiring, fixed internal and external doors, emptied septics, did plumbing, replaced pipes and tanks, fixed ceiling, installed water, changed internal window curtains, retiled one bedroom and put concrete on the outside, totaling to US$ 20 000. He, therefore, expects the amount to be offset from the arrears.
Kobusingye acknowledges the works done on the property.
However, she is not convinced that the amount is US$20 000 and as such, she is willing to offset US$ 5 000.
Christakis has, according to sources, offered his truck’s logbook as security.
Kobusingye now wants the truck parked at a place of her choice until full payment is made.
Christakis argues that during the Covid-q9 lockdown, he was not earning any income.
Between April 2020 and December 2020, the rent due was US$ 9 000.
In consideration, Kobusingye proposes that her tenant pays US$ 4 500.
Kobusingye is of the view that Christakis pays her 40% arrears while the remaining 60% be paid in 4 installments up to October 2021 (15% monthly on top of the monthly rent). She is also willing to adjust to allow for his client to look for another space.
However, in terms of adjustments on the payment of the said arrears, Kobusingye is not willing to adjust anymore.
But Kobusingye says that instead of Christakis committing to clear his rent arrears, he has resorted to threats and declaring he would use his people to disorganize her.
It is worth noting that this matter is before the Commercial Court but there was an option that the two settle the matter out of court, an option they are currently trying to explore.
This is a developing story as this news website tracks down the protagonists for their comments.