14 , Wednesday, February 7, 2018 NATIONAL NEWS Government abandons Naguru housing project

By Juliet Waiswa

Kampala minister, Beti Kamya Last year, the tenants dragged the Government to court has revealed to the former for breach of contract. Nakawa/Naguru tenants Under the agreement, the Government has failed to that the Government intends supervise the project and the developer has since 2007 to come up with a better to date failed to develop the project in accordance with development plan on their the PPP agreement. Balimwezo (right) welcoming Kamya as chancellor for naguru, Simon Barigo looks on land instead of constructing ‘‘The Government has also failed to invoke any low cost housing estates. sanctions against the developer to the detriment and tenants that the Government “I think at this moment you were given the first priority to She revealed this on prejudice of the tenants,” the tenants’ lawyer stated in would protect their interests need to choose representatives purchase the units. Thursday during a meeting a suit. before any development is who will manage the interests About 1,750 families from with over 200 former tenants The tenants also faulted the Government for failing made. of all tenants,” Kamya said. the two estates measuring 189 of the estate. to give them any information as stakeholders in the Kamya requested tenants to acres were in July 2011 told project, contrary to policy and good practice for public “The Government will value form a committee to compile History of Nakawa/Naguru to vacate the land. Naguru the available land in Nakawa projects affecting local stakeholders. They argued that views of the tenants for the The Government, through the housing estate had 753 and Naguru earlier proposed the Government and the developer have parcelled out benefit of all stakeholders. Ministry of Local Government, housing units while Nakawa for low cost housing units. This and sold or leased parts of the estate to third parties to The affected parties on the agreed that the tenants vacate had 932 units. concept has been dropped the detriment of the tenants. land include the estate to pave way for and instead the Government headquarters, St Luke Church redevelopment under a Public More demands is of the view that this prime "$"$ Naguru and Naguru Infant Private Partnership (PPP) “We have been moving a land can be developed into a Primary school. arrangement. lot and every time we come convention centre or something The tenants, however, have Prior to that, the tenants nothing is resolved. Some of else,’’ Kamya said. New concept disappointed by the developer, divergent views, with some were given a right to purchase us want to be compensated,” The meeting at Nakawa The Government’s initial who did not execute the project advocating compensation, the dedicated and subsidised David Owagal, who lived in division headquarters plan was to have a satellite as expected and has since been want to be given 10 of the 60 residential flats as a first the estate for over 35 years, convened by the minister was city constructed before they told to halt any development acres for the construction of a priority. said. also attended by Nakawa reached an agreement to build on the two pieces of land as business centre. Some want The Government entered into “We need to get all members mayor Nsubuga Balimwezo low cost housing units. the Government draws another the Government to give them an agreement with a developer, registered; let the Government and resident city commissioner, Kamya told the tenants plan. opportunity to develop the Opec, on October 15, 2007 give us 10 acres so that we Jackie Kemisha. that the Government was She, however, assured the land. under which the tenants develop them’’, he said. Court to hear pension case without Kasango Sh7.6b set aside for By Betty Amamukirori agriculture equipment and Barbra Kabahumuza

Court has resolved to continue with the By Andrew Ssenyonga hearing of the sh15b pension scam case Due to climate despite sickness claims by lawyer, Bob The Government has set aside Kasango, who is one of the key suspects. sh7.6b to procure agricultural change, there According to a letter presented before equipment which will be hired court, Kasango is admitted at out to farmers. Hospital and has been there since They include two wheel is need to bring January 30, where, according to the loaders and three excavators. defence lawyers, he was rushed when “Due to climate change, there water near to his condition deteriorated. is need to bring water near to The embattled lawyer says he has heart farmers and this can be done by complications and at one time asked digging valley dams and tanks. farmers court to release his passport so he could This should be supplemented seek specialist medical care out of the Obey, Kunsa and Lwamafa with their lawyer Isabirye attending a court by opening up roads and farm country. Court rejected the request. session at the Anti-Corruption Court yesterday. Photo by Tony Rujuta land,” Vincent Ssempijja, the staff have been conducting agriculture minister, said. supervision and field their Hospitalised explanation to court. Kiwanuka Kunsa and Milton Mutegeya, reports indicate that some On Monday this week, Nsubuga Mubiru, John Isabirye, a lawyer representing a former high court clerk, were charged Improved yields households have already sold one of the defence lawyers, said Kasango Stephen Kiwanuka Kunsa, told court with corruption over irregular payment While addressing journalists off all the beans, yet they are was to be transferred to the heart institute that he is fine with the state’s position of sh15b to the defunct law firm, Hall & at the Media Centre the main source of protein. for further medical attention and asked and asked court to fix a date for hearing. Partners. in on Thursday, “Harvesting of cereals is for a one-month adjournment, which “Get us two days to let the prosecution It is alleged that in 2012, sh15.4b was Ssempijja said the equipment ongoing, farmers are advised court again declined to grant, calling it finish its case,” he told Justice Margaret paid to Kasango’s defunct law firm as will be hired out to farmers on to harvest quickly and to an unreasonable request. Tibulya of the Anti-Corruption Court, legal fees by Lwamafa, Obey and Kunsa, a cost sharing arrangement. prepare fields for the next Yesterday, when the court sat to discuss who is presiding over the case. yet the money was meant for payment As the first planting season crop,” he said. a way forward on whether to grant Walugembe told the almost empty of pensions and gratuity of 6,337 ex-civil approaches, Ssempijja urged Beatrice Byaruhanga, the Kasango his request or continue with court roomthat they have two more service men. the extension workers across director agricultural extension the hearings Tom Walugembe, a state witnesses to testify before they close the Lwamafa, Kunsa and Obey were the country to guide farmers services urged communities prosecutor, asked court to set a date for prosecution case. So far only 15 have convicted last year for embezzling sh88b on early land preparation, in drought prone areas to de- a hearing as they continue investigating testified. from Public Service through irregular selection and preparation of silt dams in order to harvest Kasango’s sickness claims. Tibulya has set February 20, 22 and 27 budgeting. seeds and planting materials. enough water. “We are still investigating his status but as the hearing date for the remaining two They are currently serving seven, five “For areas which were She also advised LCI confident that within a few days we shall witnesses. and 10 year jail terms, respectively. affected by the fall armyworm, chairpersons and parish chiefs get the facts. For now, we pray that court The case has suffered over four farmers should practise crop to sensitise communities to gets us a hearing date so we can close Corruption case adjournments due to Kasango’s ill rotation for maize with other enforce byelaws on wild fires, our case,” he said. In 2016, Kasango, Jimmy Lwamafa, health since October 2017. crops to break the pests or proper utilisation of wetlands However, neither Kasango nor his former permanent secretary Ministry The state prosecutors and defence disease cycles,” he advised. and to discourage cultivation lawyer Rajab Arinaitwe were present of Public Service, Christopher Obey, lawyers hope that this new date will lead Ssempijja said the ministry on steep slopes. in court. Arinaitwe did not give any former principal accountant, Stephen to a speedy hearing of the case.