By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Prominent Asian businessman and former Buganda Kingdom minister Rajni Tailor has once again found himself in legal trouble after being arrested for failing to pay a $5,000 debt owed to the Madhvani Group.
Tailor’s latest arrest comes on the heels of numerous complaints from members of the Indian community, accusing him of failing to repay substantial loans they had extended to him.
This ongoing financial scandal has raised fresh concerns about his ability to manage debts and honour financial commitments.
Tailor’s financial troubles have been well-documented with a long history of loan defaults, bounced checks and legal battles.
His most recent arrest adds to a growing list of legal disputes surrounding his financial activities.
In May 2021, Tailor faced the possibility of a six-month prison sentence after the Commercial Court ruled that he had failed to repay a UGX 146 million loan to Prime Finance Company.
Lady Justice Susan Abinyo rejected Tailor’s claims that he had made partial payments before the loan period ended, noting discrepancies in the payments he made in 2019 and 2020. The court ruled that Tailor had no plausible defense, ordering him to settle the debt or face imprisonment.
“As a result, I find that the Applicant has failed to raise triable issues plausible defense to warrant that grant of leave to appear and defend the suit,” Justice Abinyo ruled.
Tailor’s financial difficulties first came to public attention in September 2019 when he was arrested for issuing bounced checks after members of the Indian community accused him of failing to repay loans.
This was not the first time he faced such allegations, as Tailor had previously been involved in similar controversies. He was accused of issuing checks knowing that he had insufficient funds on his account, a pattern of behaviour that has raised eyebrows about his financial dealings.
In addition to his business ventures, Rajni Tailor has held several influential positions within Uganda’s Indian community. He has served as the former president of the Hindu Council of Africa, co-president of the World Council of Religions for Peace and chairperson of the board of trustees of the Indian Association of Uganda.
Despite his high-profile roles in promoting economic cooperation and business development, his reputation has been severely tarnished by his recurring financial scandals.
And now, the latest chapter in his ongoing legal battles casts a shadow over his once-prominent legacy within Uganda’s business and Indian communities.
