Kampala businessman Drake Lubega has warned tenants in his commercial buildings against urinating in shops and common areas, with anyone caught breaking the rule facing a Shs1 million fine or possible eviction.
The warning is contained in a notice issued by Tesco Industries Limited to tenants and building staff. The notice lists several rules that management says must be followed.
Yet the strongest warning concerns sanitation. The notice says management has discovered that some tenants are urinating in their shops (in buckets) and in common areas of the buildings.
“It has come to our notice that some tenants urinate in shops and in common areas. This is unacceptable and unhealthy,” the notice says.
The notice says tenants must use designated toilets and warns that anyone found urinating elsewhere will be fined Shs1 million or face possible eviction.
It is a very common practice for tenants, especially women, to use buckets for fear of contracting UTIs in arcade toilets, which were normally not cleaned well.
Tenants in Lubega’s buildings have also been warned to switch off shop lights at night. A tenant whose shop lights are found on will be fined Shs1 million.
Those who leave their shops open at night, the notice says, will face a similar Shs1 million fine.
The notice further says tenants who have not paid rent by the 11th day of every month will have their shops closed by management.
“The manager responsible for allowing such a shop to remain open will also face a Shs1 million penalty or dismissal,” reads the notice.
The use of charcoal stoves, locally known as esigiri, has also been banned inside the buildings. Anyone found using one will be fined Shs1 million.
Lubega is one of Kampala’s best-known commercial property owners, with a large portfolio of shopping arcades and business premises in the city centre.
His relationship with tenants has, however, not always been smooth.
The biggest confrontation between Lubega and his tenants came during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. After arcades were allowed to reopen, some of Lubega’s tenants protested after they were required to clear rent arrears before accessing their shops.
The tenants argued that they had been unable to operate for months because of the government lockdown and therefore could not afford the accumulated rent. Some accused Lubega of refusing to reopen his buildings and of holding their merchandise.
More recently in 2024, tenants at his Pentagon City Plaza protested over a 10% increase in rent. The traders also complained about other charges, including garbage collection and penalties relating to electricity use.
Lubega defended his position, saying landlords also had loans, taxes, and other expenses to meet.
Some of his properties include: Energy Centre, Totale City Plaza, Qualicell Bus Terminal, Jamboli, Pentagon City Plaza, Jesco Plaza, Titanic Plaza, Atalanta, Jesco Beauty Centre, Majestic, Mini Price, Austria Plaza, ESCO Plastics and Katonga City Complex.
