By Shibah Nasali
Business Mogul Drake Lubega who owns commercial buildings such as Quallicel Bus Terminal, Mini Price, Total Business Cenre among others recently announced a mega offer to attract new tenants and also motivate the existing ones.
Following the lockdown that lasted for four months or so, the business environment suffered different changes both positive and others negative some of which included payment of rent arrears.
While some landlords like Ntake of Teddy Plaza and Kareem of Equatorial mall pardoned their tenants for some rent arrears accumulated during the COVIF-19 lockdown, Drake demanded for full rent for all the months the shops were closed. This forced most of the tenants to abandon Lubega’s buildings.
Lubega recently announced an offer for all his buildings under Tesco Industries where by for every number of months you pay, you get that same number of months free.
Homeland News visited some of his building in downtown Kampala and the tenants had mixed reactions about his offer;
Mr. Ssekyanzi a tenant in Quallicel Bus terminal building said he had seen the posters announcing the offer and he was excited about it. However, he does not trust Drake Lubega and he doubts he will keep his promise.
Mr. Mugalu a tenant in French Plaza said that Lubega does not respect anyone regardless of how much you pay him. “If He has failed to respect all his old tenants how will he handle these old tenants he is inviting with such a sumptuous offer?”
“I was Drake Lubega’s tenant for seven years and I left immediately after the lockdown. Drake is such a bad mannered man and I can never go back to his buildings regardless of all the offers he promises.” Said Hajjati Saidat a trader at Nakasero complex.
A lady that preferred anonymity rebuked the manner in which she was treated by Drake yet she was paying rent of 7.8m every month. She said even if Drake Lubega bought all the buildings in Kampala she would close business and go back to the village because she can never rent in any of his buildings ever again.
One of the new tenants in Total Business Park expressed concern about how slow business is lately and said that the new offer could buy her time to make more money since business is very slow.
Jessica a tenant in Nabukeera Complex advised Drake Lubega to work on the different things that his tenants constantly complain about rather than promising offers. He should learn to give his tenants value for their money.”
Drake Lubega and his tenants have constantly clashed over hiked electricity bills, increased rent, poor sanitation among other issues.
Efforts by Homeland News to reach Drake Lubega and his management to comment on the matter were futile.
