@mkonomtupu - Good points.
1) Buy & Hold is a great strategy. It does not mean never sell. That's a misconception. It is not based on 'technical analysis' but fundamental analysis which clearly showed Uchumi was going down the crapper. Either way, for now, both turned out a-OK for those who sold out. And you told folks you have no shares which is different from non-disclosure.
2) Selling 'good' assets isn't a good idea but selling under-performing assets is OK. That said, I think some assets are under-performing because of poor management. One man's wine is another man's poison. We often see premises/businesses changing hands & thriving in new hands.
3) The granary has nothing but rats. And even the rats on this sinking ship had started fleeing.
4) WB says a firm should not retain cash unless the firm can increase/grow the value of the cash substantially. Expansion for expansion's sake is not kosher. I think the cash dividend was a PR stunt. You did the right thing by bailing out. I did the same in KQ. I made a huge loss but a far lesser loss than I would have had today. If anything, the KQ cash was reinvested into far better yielding positions.
Greedy when others are fearful. Very fearful when others are greedy - to paraphrase Warren Buffett