Kimbowa Benedict, the Managing Director of Vintage International Company Limited, alleges that he was contracted to construct a dormitory wing at Bukedea School Annex in 2024 but was later arrested following a dispute over construction costs and payments. He further claims that he was forced to sign three cheques worth Shs30 million as a ransom to prove whether his claims about the project’s expenditure were true.
Benedict says the project, which he attributes to former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, was initially budgeted at approximately Shs3 billion but eventually rose to about Shs7 billion as construction progressed.
According to his account, the project was intended to provide additional accommodation for students at the school. However, he says challenges emerged when he needed raw materials to continue with the construction work.
Benedict alleges that he was directed to the school’s headmaster, identified as Professor [name not yet confirmed], who later connected him to Among. He says he subsequently informed the former Speaker about the difficulties he was facing in obtaining construction materials and meeting the project’s requirements.
The contractor claims that the rising costs created financial pressure as he attempted to complete the work while meeting obligations to employees and suppliers.
Benedict says tensions escalated when his employees and suppliers began demanding payment for work done and materials supplied.
He alleges that he was contacted and informed that he would meet Among at her residence in Nakasero, Kampala. However, he claims that upon arriving, he was ordered to be arrested and taken to Kampala Central Police Station (CPS), where he was reportedly charged with embezzlement.
According to Benedict, he spent two days in custody at CPS before being transferred to Bukedea Police Station, where he says he spent another two days in detention.
He further alleges that, during subsequent negotiations, Among sent her stepbrothers to the police station. Benedict also claims that the Deputy Police Commander (DPC) at Bukedea sought clarification regarding his case.
Benedict alleges that he was subsequently forced to sign three cheques worth Shs10 million each, which he describes as a ransom intended to establish whether his claims about the project’s expenditure were true.
He maintains that signing the cheques was part of the pressure he faced as he attempted to demonstrate the accuracy of his account of the construction costs.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged demand for the cheques, including who was meant to receive them, whether they were cashed and what conditions were attached to them, remain unclear and require independent verification.
Benedict says he later agreed to obtain an independent valuation of the construction work to establish the amount spent and determine whether the expenditure matched the project budget.
He claims that the valuation he commissioned indicated that the amount budgeted for the project exceeded the value of the work and materials actually utilised.
According to his account, a further request was subsequently made for another valuation on the grounds that the first assessment had been conducted by a valuer of his own choice.
The disagreement over the project’s actual cost, the value of completed work and the amount payable appears to be central to the contractor’s account of the dispute.
The valuation reports, construction contract, payment records and an independent assessment of the project expenditure would be necessary to establish the precise financial position.
Despite the dispute, Benedict claims that he continues to face demands from suppliers who provided construction materials for the Bukedea school project.
He says the outstanding claims have left him under financial pressure because he remains responsible for addressing demands from those who supplied materials or participated in the construction.
The contractor’s allegations raise questions about the management of construction contracts, accountability for project expenditure and the handling of disputes involving substantial sums of money.
The case also highlights the importance of written agreements, clear payment schedules, independently verified valuations and proper documentation of changes to construction budgets.
Several issues require further clarification, including the terms of the original contract, the reasons the projected cost allegedly increased from Shs3 billion to Shs7 billion, the amounts paid to Benedict and the value of the work completed.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest, the alleged demand for the three cheques and the outstanding claims by suppliers also require verification through police records, financial documents and statements from the parties involved.
Benedict’s account represents allegations that have not been independently established in this report. Among’s response to the claims, as well as explanations from the school administration, police and other parties mentioned, was not available for inclusion.
The construction contract, valuation reports and any related legal proceedings could help establish how the project was managed, what payments were made and whether any money remains outstanding.
Until those records and responses are obtained, the allegations surrounding the project and the circumstances of Benedict’s detention remain subject to verification.
