NEMA sets project terms

Jul 28, 2005

THE National Environment management Authority (NEMA) will not clear the proposal to construct a hotel at the Centenary Park, pending impact assessment.

THE National Environment management Authority (NEMA) will not clear the proposal to construct a hotel at the Centenary Park, pending impact assessment, write Gerald Tenywa and Catherine Ntabadde.

NEMA spokesperson Wilfred Banabakintu recently said Centenary Park was part of the “green belt.” He said the park forms part of the wetlands where rain water from Kololo and Nakasero drains.

Kampala City Council (KCC) offered four acres out of the I0-hectare park on grounds that the six acres the investor wanted were “too many”.

Paul Mafabi, who heads the wetlands inspection division in the environment ministry, said, “We have not formed an opinion, but we are still studying it.”
An impact assessment is undertaken to find out the environmental implications of a proposed project.

Kenneth Kakuru, an environmental lawyer and activist under Green Watch, said the relevant authorities including KCC should be put on pressure over the allocation of land.

However, sources say various institutions including the town and country planning board, were not consulted before the directive was sent to KCC.

President Yoweri Museveni recently requested that six acres of land out of the 10-acre park should be allocated to a Korean investor to build a hotel.

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