UGANDA TYCOON LOSES $1M HIDES AND SKINS CLAIM

Uganda tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba has lost a UGX1.6bn ($950,500) insurance claim against United Assurance Co (UAC) for damage to a large consignment of hides and skins being transported to Hong Kong and China from Uganda. Mr Basajjabalaba, the owner of Basajjabalaba Hides & Skins Co, sued the insurer under a marine cargo insurance policy taken out in 2001, claiming that the goods were damaged by sweat, with some being stolen. Justice Stella Arach-Amoko of the High Court said that the claim was baseless. She awarded costs to the insurer. The Court concluded that the goods had been unaffected by sweat, with the damage being caused by the delay the company spent loading the goods into the containers. The Court also ruled that the damage assessors — the Standard Marine & Cargo Survey, were not the agreed surveyors according to the policy terms.