Michael Ezra

Michael Ezra Mulyoowa is believed to be one of the wealthiest Africans.[3] He is the owner of SunSpace International, a holding company registered in the Seychelles, and a founding patron of the Ezra Track Team Board, a sports philanthropic financing and talent search agency. He is a philanthropist known for his donations towards sporting causes in his home country.[4]

Michael Ezra
Michael Ezra Mulyoowa
Born (1973-07-20) 20 July 1973
Kampala
NationalityUgandan
OccupationBusinessman (Owner, SunSpace International; Founding Patron, ETTB)
Years activesince 2002
Known forsports, philanthropy and wealth
Net worthover US$ 1.5 billion [1][2]

Early life

Born in Kampala, Uganda on 20 July 1973,[5] Michael Ezra is a former Uganda national team sprinter.

He was born to Beatrice Nantongo, a retired Commissioner with the Uganda Police. He is the second of five siblings with two sisters, Hope and Beatrice, and two brothers, Patrick and Martin. He is an alumnus of Kitante Primary and Makerere College Schools.

Since around 2003 he has been a subject of intrigue in the local Ugandan media, especially the tabloids, being praised and vilified in almost equal measure.

The source (and true size) of his immense wealth remains a closely guarded secret. His known investment vehicle is SunSpace International. It is reported that his investments in Dubai (U.A.E.) alone stand at over $1.5 billion, with the bulk of it in real estate.

In the media

2003

2004

2006

2007
  • In September, he awarded The Cranes US$100,000. Awarding the coach $15,000, two assistant coaches $2,500 each and the 16 player squad $5,000 each after they beat Niger 3-1 in a qualifier.[20]

2008

2009
  • In July a US$5.93 million scam targeting him was discovered. The perpetrator was an American internet con artist.[22]

2010

2011

Controversies

In August 2010, upon arrival in his home country, the local media reported that Michael Ezra had not remitted taxes to the tune of 1.1 billion Ugandan Shillings (approximately $500,000) to the Uganda government. This prompted the tax body, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), to request a travel ban on him and the freezing of his assets.[25] Around the same time it was alleged that Michael Ezra was ordered by the Commercial Court in Uganda to pay back a loan of Ush 430 Million (approx. $195,000), plus interest, to National Bank of Commerce (Uganda).[26]

In September 2010, he called a press conference at the luxurious Emin Pasha hotel in Kampala and displayed a stack of $3 Million dollars as though to prove that he was not broke as alleged in the Ugandan media.[27][28]

In February 2011, Michael Ezra was arrested by the Kenyan police. It was said Ezra had not honored court summons to defend himself against allegations that he issued a cheque worth $200,000, which was dishonored, to a Kenyan company.[29] Ezra, through his lawyers, denied the charges. His lawyer argued that the offense 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 ($78,000).[30] Ezra’s lawyer claimed in court that a Kenyan businessman was framing his client with the intention of extorting money from him.[31]

In July 2013, he was acquitted on charges of issuing bounced cheques.[32][33]

Honours & Public Recognition

He was NewVision's Man of the Year (2006) having been runner up to the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni from 2003 to 2005 and later in 2007.[34] Michael Ezra is entrenched in the hearts of many of his countrymen as a hero thanks to his philanthropic exploits, especially toward national teams in dire straits.

References

Footnotes
  1. The Gulf Today His Dubai investments are said to be over $1.5 Billion(Last visited 21 August 2010)
  2. Ezra’s expensive affair with Kenyan court The Daily Monitor 14 July 2013
  3. The Gulf Today His Dubai investments are said to be over $1.5 Billion(Last visited 21 August 2010)
  4. The Daily Monitor Ezra’s expensive affair with Kenyan court(Last visited 28 July 2013)
  5. The Daily Monitor The 39-year-old(Last visited 14 July 2013)
  6. BBC Sport / Uganda Tycoon upbeat on bid(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  7. The Telegraph UK / Uganda Tycoon is latest leeds saviour(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  8. "Ugandan link sees Leeds shares rise". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  9. "Sponsor feeds Uganda's hunger for boxing glory". The Age. 28 April 2004. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Uganda: Ezra Oils Bombers". Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  12. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/-/2456/243156/-/item/1/-/i0emn7z/-/index.html
  13. Mail Archive Ezra offers $30m for Namboole Stadium (Last visited 2 April 2011)
  14. The New Vision Ezra Pays for Cranes Trip Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  15. Khaleej Times In-flight Auction raises $250,000 for charity(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. The Moodie Report Emirates auctions Montblanc watch for charity(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  18. The Moodie Report / In-flight buying history(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  19. New Vision The best and worst of 2006 Archived 5 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 2 April 2011)
  20. The New Vision Cranes rewarded $100,000 Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  21. Wall street Journal Blog The Worlds largest private jet(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  22. The Gulf Today Scam eluded(Last visited 16 March 2010)
  23. Daily Monitor Ezra offers 1.6 Billion if cranes qualify(Last visited 5 October 2010)
  24. The Star Uganda tycoon Ezra rewards Cranes after Kenya game (Last visited 12 October 2011)
  25. New Vision Uganda URA blocks Michael Ezra from travel Archived 1 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 29 August 2010)
  26. New Vision Uganda Businessman told to pay bank Archived 29 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 26 August 2010)
  27. New Vision Tycoon Michael Ezra shows off cash Archived 5 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 3 September 2010)
  28. Daily Monitor Ezra flashes $3 Million at journalists(Last visited 3 September 2010)
  29. The Standard Flying Squad arrest Ugandan tycoon(Last visited 10 March 2011)
  30. The Standard Court Releases Ugandan tycoon on Sh6 Million bond(Last visited 10 March 2011)
  31. Daily Nation Ugandan tycoon blames Kenyan Businessman for woes(Last visited 10 March 2011)
  32. Standard Digital Nairobi court acquits Ugandan tycoon Michael Ezra over bouncing cheque (Last visited 11 July 2013)
  33. The Daily Nation Court acquits Uganda's Ezra in false pretence case (Last visited 11 July 2013)
  34. New Vision The best and worst of 2006 Archived 5 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine(Last visited 2 April 2011)
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