Why the robbery at NRM boss Nekesa’s residence is more of a practical Joke than a reality

On December 5, 2023, social media was awash with reports that the residence of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Treasurer, Barbara Nekesa, was broken into and an unspecified amount of money stolen.

Later, a section of the media reported that Nekesa lost Shs 3 billion in that robbery. Earlier, the brains behind the smear campaign against Nekesa reported that 400 million was lost, before pointing out Shs 500 million to be lost in the said robbery. However, we have since learnt through an independent investigation that the robbery was a connivance between her house guard and other thieves, reportedly in security. Nekesa’s residential guard, Wango, who is currently in police custody, connived with the thieves, guided them (thieves) from the gate to the maid’s room where one Bayat was picked at gun point to go and open the kitchen door through which they gained access and were led by her to Nekesa’s bedroom while Wango stayed in the maid’s room watching over the lady chef. In reality, Nekesa lost Shs 41.5 million to the thieves as per her own statement at Police. The money had been withdrawn from dfcu Bank Nakasero branch on November 30, 2023.

Why the whole story was more of a hoax than reality

Muyenga home
In the media preferred by the proponents of the malicious stories against Nekesa, they reported that the NRM boss lives a flashy life in Muyenga, and in a very powerful home. They wanted to paint a picture that Nekesa, who has spent two years NRM Treasurer was stealing money and building a house.

First of all, Nekesa is married to a wealthy businessman, Lumolo Suleiman Mafabi, who has strings of businesses including Kampala Modernity which deals in brand new cars and supplies across the country, deals in dairy products, coffee and real estate. Secondly, the residence is not new. We have learnt that the house was constructed between 2014 and 2016.

Apartments
Nekesa’s accusers also talked about apartments owned by the former Ambassador to South Africa. The apartments were built in 2017. In fact, in 2021, the apartments had tenants. “So, the motive of the robbery and they are linking it to the home and her apartment, these are things she had before she was appointed as the NRM Treasurer,” a source says.

Situational report
Shockingly, once Nekesa had been robbed. The story broke out on X under a fake account. Interestingly, investigators had just arrived at her residence (crime scene) when post was published on X. One wonders how the post on X coincided with the scene of crime analysis. In the post on social media, the user concluded that Nekesa lost Shs 400 million. This conclusion came even before the investigators had done any work at the crime scene.

“The report came when the police were still gathering leads. So, who posted this report? Who knew it earlier? And they said our forces and Police? But the police was still doing their thing. Why couldn’t they wait for the factual report from police?” wonders a source.

Shamba boy
Media reports also alleged that Nekesa has a shamba boy at her residence. This is another hoax. In fact, Wango led the thieves to the maid’s room, from where a young girl was ordered to go and open the kitchen through which the thieves gained access and were led to Nekesa’s bedroom at gun point. Nekesa lives with her husband, five children and girl maids.
“They claimed that the shamba boy opened the door. Actually, there is no shamba boy in that place. An indication that the information they were giving was wrong and was meant to shape their selfish agenda.”

The money
After the robbery incident, figures lost by Nekesa started changing on almost weekly basis. However, it is difficult to believe the smear allegations. In this day of smartphones, the photos showing cash would have emerged by now. Secondly, they also alleged that the cash in Nekesa’s bedroom could not be counted. Scattered bags of countless money. Where is the cash they are talking about? No one one has come out to show it.

The truth
The truth, however, is that Nekesa (personally) lost Shs 41.5 million in the robbery. The husband also registered loses with the police. The incident was planned by her bodyguard, okello, who is currently behind bars. According to sources, Wango disconnected CCTV cameras before the robbery incident. After conniving with the thieves, he then guided the thieves from the gate to the maid’s room. They picked a maid, Bayat at gun point, ordered her to open the kitchen through which they accessed Nekesa’s bedroom. After the incident, the thieves started changing information on how much Nekesa lost in the robbery.

Why Nekesa is a target
We have exclusively learnt that since Nekesa was appointed by the President as the NRM Treasurer, she has among others, cleared over 30 months salary arrears. Before, the staff were going up to 40 months without salary. However, we have it on record that Nekesa has brought the NRM staff pay sheet to zero. “So, some people could have been profiting from the non-payment of NRM Secretariat staff,” said a junior officer. In fact, we have learnt that previously, the Secretariat would sit down and write to the President for a bail-out aimed at getting money to pay the staff but now, the Secretariat does not ask for money from the President.

Cars
Previously, a source says that whichever appointment came to the NRM Secretariat, it would come with new cars. Some positions would be created. After which, they would ask for cars for the new appointments. They claimed that old cars would go with the shuffled officer. However, Nekesa cut it. “They would call State House asking for cars. In the end, they would send money or cars. Of course the President wouldn’t come to the Secretariat to crosscheck which car is there and which one is missing. She cut that deal out,” said a junior staff in the Secretariat.

NRM district offices
We have also learnt that Nekesa is instead pushing for the party building party offices at the district to cut on expenses on rent. For instance, Gulu and Ngora NRM Houses have been constructed and finished. Mityana is in the queue for construction. Luweero is pending.
“It saves on rent. Districts like Bulambuli had 54 months unpaid rent by the time Nekesa was appointed. To date, there are no arrears for rent in the districts,” an independent investigation revealed.