NATIONAL NEWS , Monday, October 2, 2017 7 Parliament rejects sh85b compensation for Basajjabalaba

By Nicholas Wassajja BHS further sub-leased the property and Moses Walubiri to Dan Kwatampora Katarihwa, who wanted to set up a bus terminal. This Parliament has rejected a move to did not auger well with the traders, pay sh85b to Basajjabalaba Hides forcing their umbrella body called and Skins Co, Limited (BHS) as City Abattoir Traders Development compensation for residual interests Association (CATDA) to evict the in the management and operations two companies and take over of city abattoir situated in management of the city abattoir. Industrial Area. It is upon this basis that Basajjabalaba MPs argue that there was no basis to is now said to be demanding sh85b in support the claims. BHS is owned by compensation for the interests that he businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba. is bound to lose. The MPs were debating a report The state minister for Kampala, The city abattoir in Industrial Area on Old Port Bell Road in Kampala. Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba of the committee on presidential Benna Namugwanya, explained that and foreign affairs last week. the sh85b claim has put them in a affairs committee last year, Basajjabalaba. The then Attorney The committee, among other spot of bother because, “we asked Basajjabalaba alleged that the General, Prof. Kiddu Makubuya and things, recommended a sh85b for the Chief Government Valuer to BETWEEN THE LINES: Inspector General of Police, Gen. finance minister Syda Bumba were Basajjabalaba and said Kampala value for us the property and he said QIn 2011, the Government came Kale Kayihura and Kampala Lord forced out of offices for the part they Capital City Authority (KCCA) he did not have the competence to do under severe criticism after Mayor Erias Lukwago, were to blame played in the compensation. management should urgently set the magnitude of work involved and suspicious compensation of for KCCA’s failure to collect revenue. Basajjabalaba had won tenders aside funds to purchase BHS’ residual when we sought to procure services about sh165b to Basajjabalaba. The committee’s report reveals to manage Nakasero and St. interests in the city abattoir. of a private valuer, the firm asked for The then Attorney General Prof. that since 2011, KCCA has not Balikuddembe (Owino) markets. But Presenting the report, the committee a lot of money so we do not know Kiddu Makubuya and Finance been collecting revenue from the the deals were revoked after protests vice-chairperson, Suzan Amero (MP how to proceed”. minister Syda Bumba were city abattoir yet its non-tax revenue from market traders. Amuria), said: “It would be unfair for However, Nandala Mafabi (MP IRUFHGRXWRIRIoFHVIRUWKHSDUW collections are very low, which The committee also recommended a nation with a policy of promotion Budadiri West) advised that instead they played in the compensation. triggered the committee investigation that KCCA reviews its agreement with of local content to turn around and of the sh85b that BHS is claiming in to also ascertain ownership of the BHS, determine the fees payable by frustrate her local entrepreneurs.” compensation, it should be used to land. CATDA and bring to book all officers She added that it is incumbent construct other modern abattoirs in MPs Ibrahim Ssemujju (Kira who renegade on the responsibility to upon the Government to compensate and outside Kampala. compensation yet BHS did not fulfill a Municipality) and Alex Ruhunda supervise the abattoir. BHS fairly and to have thousands of With a modern abattoir single agreement in the management ( Municipality) wondered However, Busiro East MP Medard the vendors’ interests in the facility commissioned in Bombo, the contract, including construction of why the Government continues to Ssegona called on the House to reject protected. Government has plans to construct an ultra-modern slaughter and meat deal with Basajjabalaba even after he the report, investigate the committee In 2000, the defunct Kampala Capital others in Nakasongola, Mpigi, Soroti handling facility,” she said. was found culpable of engaging in members and reinvestigate the City (KCC), which was initially in and Mbarara, and in future, all cattle The committee argues that shoddy deals that led to resignation matter. charge of the city abattoir located on will be slaughtered from their areas of its findings indicate that the of two cabinet ministers and The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Plot 1&3 Old Port Bell Road, entered origin and only the meat transported redevelopment of the city abattoir forging court documents to secure Kadaga, said previous reports about into a management contract with BHS to Kampala. was frustrated by the illegal and compensation for public land. the matter should be reviewed for a period of five years but one year Bukoto East MP Florence forceful takeover of the facility by In 2011, the Government came before a select committee is put in later, BHS got a sub-lease from KCC Namayanja said: “It is a shock that CATDA. under severe criticism after suspicious place to carry out a comprehensive for a period of 49 years. Basajjabalaba is asking for exorbitant Appearing before the presidential compensation of about sh165b to investigation. Museveni contributes sh320m for Soroti Cathedral project By Charles Achoda Museveni had earlier been and Felix Osujo conducted on a tour of the site by Bishop Erwau. The present President Yoweri Museveni has cathedral that was built in 1961, has donated sh320m towards the a seating capacity of 500 people. It construction of St Peter’s Cathedral, serves as seat of Soroti Diocese and Soroti Church of . takes care of Church of Uganda The President also auctioned two Christians in the entire Teso sub- bulls at sh300m during the church region. fundraising ceremony held on Capt Mike Mukula, the National Saturday at Soroti sports ground. Resistance Movement vice- Museveni delivered sh20m in cash chairperson for eastern Uganda, that he handed over to Bishop who heads the fundraising drive, George William Erwau of Soroti described the 56-year-old diocesan Anglican Diocese. institution as a big symbol of unity Bishop Erwau During the event, over sh600m was in the region which, he said, has receives realised both in cash and pledges. also greatly contributed to the President The fundraising drive aims at development of Teso sub-region. Museveni building an expanded cathedral The cathedral hosted thousands of in Soroti to structure that is capable of seating internally displaced people during preside over 25,000 people. The construction the Kony insurgency in the 1990s St Peters project, on completion, is expected as well as hundreds of others that Cathedral to cost sh3b. ran away from Karimojong cattle fundraising Etop, one of Vision Group’s rustlers. drive in Soroti regional newspapers, contributed Mukula disclosed that the Kampala as senior Teso 20 bags of cement in addition to the fundraising brought in over sh129m politicians look publicity for the event. cash and pledges. on