Renowned Masaka businessman, Emmanuel Kawesi Lwasa, has broken his silence on his recent arrest, alleging that BBS Television breached their agreement.
Lwasa was arrested last week from his residence and arraigned before the Mengo Grade One Magistrates Court, where he was remanded for failing to settle a Shs18 million debt. He was subsequently released on bail after clearing the debt on Monday.
In an interview on Wednesday, the businessman disclosed that he had entered into a one-year advertisement contract with BBS Television. Lwasa claims that the television station violated the terms of this contract, which led to a series of entanglements.
The contract pertained to advertisements for his “Lwasa Events” company and Tarven Kick club in Nyendo, Masaka, and these commercials were aired on the “Kiri Kitya” show, hosted by his alleged former lover, Diana Nabantazi.
“I initially paid Shs9 million out of the Shs25 million. Everything went well for about three months, and then Nabatanzi and BBS TV stopped running my adverts,” Lwasa revealed.
“BBS is likely to lose its viewers because you cannot get a Muganda man like me who has supported the kingdom for all this time, and arrest me like that. I have been giving them ads and supporting the kingdom’s activities. One time, I gave them Shs11 million, six for my ads and 5 for the kingdom,” he added.
During the interview, Lwasa dismissed claims that he failed to raise the Shs18 million required for his release.
“I heard people say that I sold my iPhone to raise the money, but I still have my phone. Even when I was arrested, I had all the money, but they refused to take it,” he stated before asserting that he single-handedly settled the entire debt.
This is not the first time Lwasa has faced arrest. In April last year, he was incarcerated over allegations of forging signatures for his mining licenses.