Who is James Isabirye Mugoya? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with Matu Wamae, Moi’s son, David Njogu, Gichuki Kingara, the early life and education of the current founder, owner, chairman, and CEO of Mugoya Construction and Engineering Company Limited.
James Isabirye Mugoya is a Ugandan civil engineer and businessman. He is also known as James Abiam Mugoya Isabirye or James Mugoya.
He was named one of Uganda’s wealthiest individuals in 2012.
James Mugoya is the founder, owner, chairman, and CEO of Mugoya Construction and Engineering Company Limited.
Early Life and Education
James Isabirye Mugoya was born in 1946 in Bulubandi, Uganda’s Eastern Region, as the first of four children.
Mugoya attended Bulyansime Primary School before moving on to Iganga Boys.
He also attended the elite Kings College Budo in Uganda, where he completed his A’level studies.
Mugoya then moved to Kenya from Uganda after gaining admission to the University of Nairobi (UoN) to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree. He was enrolled as Abiam JM Isabirye in a class of 46 students.
Mugoya graduated on October 26th, 1971, in a ceremony presided over by President Jomo Kenyatta.
Following Idi Amin’s January 26, 1971 coup, many Ugandans studying in Kenya, including Mugoya, chose to stay.
Due to his passion for motorsports, Mugoya formed strong bonds with former President Daniel Moi’s sons and the children of other high-ranking officials during his time at UoN.
This proved to be quite beneficial after he finished his academic studies.
The Moi dictatorship thus had a significant impact on Mugoya’s business success. He was a well-connected political contractor.
He apparently had unrestricted access to Nairobi’s State House. His Mugoya Construction Company allegedly received big contracts as well thanks to Moi’s influence.
Career and Professional Work Experience
James Isabirye Mugoya established Mugoya Construction and Engineering Company Limited after his graduation from UoN.
During this time, Mugoya’s company was awarded a number of lucrative government and private sector contracts, making him extremely wealthy.
The Moi government awarded James Mugoya his largest contract in 1992, to build the approximately 40-story Times Tower, which was supposed to be the largest skyscraper in Eastern Africa at the time.
The structure was finished in 1999 and has stood for more than two decades housing the Kenya Revenue Authority’s headquarters.
Mugoya Construction & Engineering Limited has also designed some renowned Kenyan projects. The National Social Security Fund building, Hazina Estate in Nairobi, Moi High School Kabarak, Kabarak University, and the Kisumu Provincial Headquarters are among them.
Contracts began to diminish following government changes in Kenya, where Mugoya’s company was founded and where the majority of business was headquartered, and Mugoya made plans to shift to Uganda.
Meanwhile, in Uganda, the Nsimbe Estate joint venture he had formed with the National Social Security Fund (Uganda) was declared illegal by Ugandan authorities and was abandoned.
Achievements and Awards
James Mugoya is the Managing director and chief executive officer of Mugoya Construction and Engineering Company Limited.
Mugoya’s company built one of Kenya’s highest skyscrapers, The Times Tower. He also built the NSSF and Kabarak buildings, both of which are outstanding buildings in Kenya.
Mugoya Estate in Nairobi’s South C and Mugoya Housing Scheme in Nyali, Mombasa County are both named after Mugoya.
Controversies
The Ugandan billionaire, James Mugoya has regularly battled the law in both Kenya and Uganda, spending time in and out of court.
NSSF hired Mugoya in 1995 to build 265 residences, an administration building, a clubhouse, and a kindergarten in Karen. The project was postponed due to pending Nairobi City Council permissions.
Mugoya later received Ksh342 million for the project, which he had initially sought Ksh633 million for, in an out-of-court settlement in 2012.
Mugoya also made a Ksh1.9 billion lawsuit against the government in 2001 for a contract to build an annexe to the Treasury building handed to him in 1990.
Matu Wamae, the then Mathira MP in 2000, questioned why all government contracts went to Mugoya Construction and Engineering Limited. He went on to clarify that they didn’t want Mugoya to win further contracts without first participating in an open tender.
Mugoya’s fortunes began to dwindle after the NARC coalition government led by late President Mwai Kibaki came to power in 2002, as his pending road contracts were terminated.
James Mugoya was charged with attempting to defraud Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) by removing mortgaged construction machinery worth KSh3.5 billion (Ush87.5 billion) without the authority of the mortgagee.
He refuted the charges in front of chief magistrate Christine Meoli, but his bond application was denied, and he was instead held at the Kileleshwa police station.
Mugoya’s lawyer, David Njogu, requested that his client be released on bond, but senior lead state counsel, Vincent Wahoro, objected, demanding time to prepare his arguments.
Gichuki Kingara, who was defending Mugoya in civil proceedings, said he would seek dismissal of the case because his client had not been arraigned in court within 24 hours, as required by Kenyan law. This was a violation of his rights.
Additionally that same year, Mugoya was charged in Kampala along with Uganda pension fund officials, with operating an illegal joint real estate enterprise worth Ush 8 billion.
Following revelations that Mugoya Construction & Engineering Limited was unable to settle its obligations, the High Court issued an order for the company’s liquidation in 2015.
Gichuki King’ara & Company Advocates, who were owed Sh. 35 million in legal expenses, and Dew Security Services, who were owed Sh. 14 million in outstanding invoices, were among the company’s debtors.
In 2018, Mugoya and a member of the UAE Royal Family claimed prime plots worth Ksh20 billion, on which the Hilton Upper Hill Tower was built.
They asserted that the developer who owned the piece of property encroached on and took over two other nearby pieces.
Philanthropic Contributions
Despite the controversies, Mugoya is still revered in Uganda for his charitable contributions.
After a student died as a result of a roof collapse following severe rains in 1994, he rebuilt Bugabawe Primary School.
Mugoya reconstructed the school after demolishing the decrepit facilities, creating a lasting impression on the community.
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