In a lawsuit filed before the Civil Division of the High Court, Sheila Nandege or Don Zella claims that on December 6, 2020, she rented two apartments, 107 and 512, operated by Speke Apartments.
Sheila Nandege, a Kampala-based socialite popularly known as Don Zella, has demanded $125,000 (approximately Shs461 million) in compensation for Speke Apartments in Limited Business (1996).
- A burglar broke into room 107 of her apartment at around 4 pm and stole UGX460 million.
- Sheila Nandege says she was denied the key to her bedroom in the rental apartment.
- Court documents show she lost eight passports (7 US and 1 Ugandan passport), two laptops.
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In a lawsuit filed before the Civil Division of the High Court, Ms Sheila Nandege aka Don Zella claims that on December 6, 2020, she rented two apartments, 107 and 512, operated by Speak Apartments.
However, on December 25, while she and her family were away, a burglar or burglars broke into room 107 of her apartment at around 4 pm and stole UGX460 million in her belongings.
Copies were seen by this reporter, the presumed objects were left in a locked apartment, and in a safe in a valuable item which was suspected of being a thief or thieves, according to courts documents.
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“Part of the affidavit states that the defendant (Speke Apartments) revealed to the plaintiff (Sheila Nandege) that the identified thief was one day registered as Jeremiah Ojok in apartment number 110”.
Through the attorneys for Semuyaba, Iga & Co., Ms Sheila Nandege said the loss was due to negligence on the part of the apartments, and they are responsible for the stolen property.
Court documents show Sheila Nandege lost eight passports (7 US and 1 Ugandan passport) for $2,000 (approximately UGX7 million), two laptops (HP ProBook and MacBook, $3,000 hard drive (about UGX11 million), jewellery worth $15,000 (approximately UGX55 million).
Other properties included; Four phones worth $4,800 (approximately UGX18 million), two children’s tablets worth $600 (approximately UGX2 million), a Nikon D850 camera worth $4,000 (about UGX14 million), $90,000 (approximately UGX332 million) and UGX30 million.
Details of negligence
Sheila Nandege says she was denied the key to her bedroom in the rental apartment, despite several requests from the manager, who was only identified as Nimesh, which would reduce the loss.
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“Failure to place a security guard on the apartment floor, residents were well aware that valuables were kept inside the apartment buildings and foreigners such as the identified thief failed to deposit the passport or copies thereof to the defendant because he was alleged to be a Kenyan,” her confession reads further.
She added, they’re responsible for failing to verify the occupants of the Speke apartment when leaving the premises, which is said to have allowed the thief to leave with safe removed from her room, and the damage to the crime scene in front of the police and her makes it difficult to arrest the thief in a timely manner.
Ms Sheila Nandege said the loss she faced was legally identifiable and was not far from the breach of the Speke Apartments duty because it was predictable that she would not be negligent in any way contributing or that she would not voluntarily consider any risk of causing the above loss.
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“The plaintiff will argue that the defendant must have a legal obligation to take care of the circumstances. The plaintiff will further argue that the defendant’s actions violate the argument such as failing to achieve the standard of attention required for the circumstances. There is a breach of duty to observe,” the court documents read in part.
Police confiscate counterfeit dollars
Police have arrested a man on Jinja Road for allegedly stealing $80,000 from Sheila Nandege, a Kampala-based socialite popularly known as Don Zella.
The 36-year-old Jeremiah Adome allegedly broke into Speke Apartments, Room 107 of Nandege, where Don Zella booked for thirty days and stole the money.
Luke Owoyesigire, PRO Deputy Metropolitan Police said, CCTV footage found in the apartment on December 24, shows the suspect at the same time a resident of the building, entering room 107.
Then you can see them depart with other items. The suspect then fled to his home in Arua. Owoyesigyire said police used all available information and were able to locate the suspect at his home. On Wednesday, he was arrested.
Owoyesigyire said a $60,000 counterfeit note was found in the suspect’s possession. However, he emphasized that the money shown was what he stole from the room.
Police are hunting down his accomplice who was seen in the footage entering Room 107 in the Speke apartment.
