FOREIGN affairs minister Sam Kutesa has vehemently denied media reports that linked him to financial dealings with the Kabaka.

Mengo, the seat of Buganda kingdom, also rebutted claims that “a senior government minister” from whom the Kabaka reportedly borrowed sh1b was holding the land title of the kingdom’s government seat as collateral security.

“It is a lie. The land title of Bulange is safe. We have it and I will show it to the Baganda during the Lukiiko meeting of July 20,” the Katikkiro, Eng. John Baptist Walusimbi, told The New Vision,/i> yesterday.

A furious Kutesa yesterday said while his name was not mentioned in the article, the description and innuendos pointed at him.

“I have never lent the Kabaka any money. I have never given him any dime. This is absolutely false,” Kutesa stated.

“I have no land title belonging to Bulange or any property of the Buganda Kingdom.”

Sunday Vision reported that the Kabaka owed sh1b to a senior cabinet minister, who helped him build a house for an elderly woman in Sembabule who had sheltered his father, Sir Edward Mutesa, when he fled to London in 1966.

“When you read the article it is by implication. I contributed to building that house and I am a senior minister from Sembabule,” Kutesa said.

In a telephone interview, Mengo information minister Charles Peter Mayiga assured the Kabaka’s subjects that the land title for Bulange was safe. “It is not mortgaged,” he stressed, adding that whoever purports to have the title should show it to the public.

“The Kabaka has not borrowed money from anyone in the central Government, either in London or Kampala.”

He also refuted claims that the Bulange title was in the name of Rexba, a company owned by the Kabaka and his son.

“That is rubbish. The title of Bulange is in the name of the Kabaka of Buganda and not Ronald Muwenda Mutebi as a person.”

Mayiga explained that the Kabaka’s welfare and that of the royal family is looked after by the Nkuluze (royal treasury).

He said Mengo resolved on the formation of Rexba so that the royal treasury is managed using modern and legal systems. Rexba is managed by Mengo officials, a reflection of Buganda kingdom being in charge, he further noted.