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Michael Ezra

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Michael Ezra
Head and shoulders photo of Michael Ezra
Michael Ezra Mulyoowa
Born (1973-07-20) 20 July 1973 (age 51)
Kampala

Michael Ezra Mulyoowa, also known as Michael Ezra Kato,[1][better source needed] is a Ugandan businessman and philanthropist who has been repeatedly indicted on criminal charges.

Biography

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Early life

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Ezra was born in Kampala on 20 July 1973[2][failed verification] to Beatrice Nantongo, a retired Commissioner of the Uganda Police. He is the second of five siblings. He attended Kitante Primary School and Makerere College School.[citation needed]

1999 arrest

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In August 1999, Ezra was arrested and charged with using fake identification to present himself as an officer of the Directorate of Military Intelligence and using to this to try to extort US$50,000. He pled guilty to three counts of impersonation, demanding money by menaces, and forgery, and was released after a fine.[1][better source needed]

Business and philanthropic activity

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Ezra is a former Uganda national team sprinter.[citation needed] Ezra is known for his financial support of Ugandan sports teams.[3] Ezra is reported to own Sunspace International, a holding company registered in the Seychelles.[citation needed]

In 2003, Ezra announced a USh 12 million (US$6111) sponsorship of the Uganda team headed for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.[citation needed]

In 2004, Ezra Track Team Board (ETTB) established a national athletics camps across Uganda with the aim of scouting talent.[citation needed]

In June 2004, he made the Government of Uganda a US$30 million offer to purchase the Uganda National Stadium (Mandela National Stadium).[4] In February 2004, Ezra made an unsuccessful £60 million bid to buy then–English Premiership club Leeds United,[5] causing the club's shares to go up by 14%.[6][7] In March 2004, he spent roughly US$500,000 on the Uganda national boxing team, The Bombers, for a qualification campaign and a nine-month camp in the run-up to the 2004 Summer Olympics.[8][9][10][11]

In October 2006, Ezra expanded ETTB's activities into football (soccer), by spending USh 60,000,000/= to send a cash-strapped Uganda national team, The Cranes, to Niamey, Niger for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.[12] In November 2006, he paid over US$250,000 for an exclusive Mont Blanc wristwatch.[13][14][15] The "one of one" timepiece was the object of an Emirates auction commemorating 100 years of Mont Blanc.[16] The timepiece was handed over to the Ugandan Businessman by His Highness Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum in Dubai.[17] In December 2006, he was named the man of the year by a public poll held annually by New Vision. He was the runner-up for four years: 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007.[18]

In September 2007, he awarded The Cranes US$100,000 after they beat Niger in a qualifier.[19][3][20]

In May 2008, he went shopping for an A380 from the French aircraft maker Airbus to be used as a private jet.[21][22]

In July 2009, a US$5.93 million scam targeting him was discovered. The perpetrator was an American internet con artist.[23]

In October 2010, Ezra stated he would award the Cranes US$650,000 should they qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.[24] In October 2011, announced he would award the Cranes half of the earlier pledge, despite them not qualifying for the tournament.[25]

Accusations of unpaid taxes and dishonoured cheques

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In August 2010, upon arrival to Uganda, local media reported that Ezra had about USh 1.1 billion (approximately US$500,000) in unpaid taxes. This prompted the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to request a travel ban on him and the freezing of his assets.[26] Around the same time it was alleged that Ezra was ordered by the Commercial Court in Uganda to pay back a loan of 430,000,000/= (approx. $195,000), plus interest, to the National Bank of Commerce.[27] In September 2010, he held a press conference at the Emin Pasha hotel in Kampala, and displaying a stack of US$3 million, stating he had been purposely evasive.[28][29]

In October 2010, Ugandan police issued summons against Ezra for two bounced cheques worth USh 2 billion.[30] Ezra, who left Uganda, claimed his payments had been blocked because he owed the URA USh 1.6 million.[30] In February 2011, Michael Ezra was arrested by the Kenyan police. It was said Ezra had not honoured court summons to defend himself against allegations that he issued a dishonoured cheque worth USh 15.4 million (US$200,000) to a Kenyan company.[31] Ezra, through his lawyers, denied the charges. His lawyer argued that the offence was a misdemeanor and bailable. He further argued that Ezra was a prominent international businessman who owned numerous properties in Kenya and was not arrested but handed himself to the authorities and therefore was not a flight risk. The Judge granted him bail of KSh 6 million (US$78,000).[32] Ezra's lawyer claimed in court that a Kenyan businessman was framing Ezra with the intention of extorting money from him.[33] In February 2012 and again in July 2013, he was charged in a Kenyan court for issuing bounced cheques, but was acquitted on both charges as "the prosecution had not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt".[34][35]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ahimbisibwe, Fortunate (11 April 2004). "ugnet_: The Story of Ezra the Uganda billioner!". The Mail Archive. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  2. ^ Ogemba, Paul (13 July 2013). "Kenyan magistrate court acquits Ezra of charges". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b Ogemba, Paul (14 July 2013). "Ezra's expensive affair with Kenyan court". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018.
  4. ^ Kalinaki, Daniel K. (2 June 2004). "Ezra offers $30m for Namboole Stadium". The Monitor Publications. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  5. ^ The Telegraph UK / Uganda Tycoon is latest leeds saviour(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  6. ^ "Ugandan link sees Leeds shares rise". ESPNFC.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Ugandan tycoon upbeat on bid". BBC Sport. 11 February 2004.
  8. ^ "Sponsor feeds Uganda's hunger for boxing glory". The Age. 28 April 2004. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Mike Ezra takes over the Bombers". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Uganda: Ezra Oils Bombers". Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Why Boxing in Kenya, Tanzania Needs an Ezra - Home - www.theeastafrican.co.ke". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  12. ^ The New Vision Ezra Pays for Cranes Trip Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  13. ^ Khaleej Times In-flight Auction raises $250,000 for charityArchived December 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  14. ^ ":: Daily Mirror - FINANCIAL TIMES ::". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  15. ^ "The Smile Train charity dinner attracts a special guest and an extraordinary donor". The Moodie Report. 6 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012.
  16. ^ The Moodie Report Emirates auctions Montblanc watch for charityArchived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  17. ^ Moodie, Martin (21 November 2006). "'The biggest transaction ever made in travel retail' – the Michael Ezra Mulyoowa story". The Moodie Report. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  18. ^ New Vision The best and worst of 2006 Archived 5 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 2 April 2011)
  19. ^ The New Vision Cranes rewarded $100,000 Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  20. ^ Namanya, Mark (27 September 2007). "Excited Ezra to give team Shs178m despite Maths". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  21. ^ Wall street Journal Blog The Worlds largest private jetArchived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  22. ^ Woollard, Deidre (8 May 2008). "Ugandan Tycoon Orders the Second Private Airbus A380". Luxist. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013.
  23. ^ Twaha, Matovu A. "UAE businessman escapes dupe attempt". Go Dubai. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  24. ^ Daily Monitor Ezra offers 1.6 Billion if cranes qualifyArchived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 5 October 2010)
  25. ^ The Star Uganda tycoon Ezra rewards Cranes after Kenya game Archived April 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 12 October 2011)
  26. ^ New Vision Uganda URA blocks Michael Ezra from travel Archived 1 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 29 August 2010)
  27. ^ New Vision Uganda Businessman told to pay bank Archived 29 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 26 August 2010)
  28. ^ New Vision Tycoon Michael Ezra shows off cash Archived 5 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 3 September 2010)
  29. ^ Daily Monitor Ezra flashes $3 Million at journalistsArchived September 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 3 September 2010)
  30. ^ a b https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/mike-ezra-katusiime-row-deepens-1479472
  31. ^ The Standard Flying Squad arrest Ugandan tycoonArchived August 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 10 March 2011)
  32. ^ The Standard Court Releases Ugandan tycoon on Sh6 Million bondArchived September 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 10 March 2011)
  33. ^ Daily Nation Ugandan tycoon blames Kenyan Businessman for woes(Last visited 10 March 2011)
  34. ^ Standard Digital Nairobi court acquits Ugandan tycoon Michael Ezra over bouncing cheque Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 11 July 2013)
  35. ^ The Daily Nation Court acquits Uganda's Ezra in false pretence case Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 11 July 2013)
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