MPs quiz Kigozi over BAT land
Mar 10, 2005
MPs on the economy committee have quizzed Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director, Dr Maggie Kigozi, about how British American Tobacco (BATU) acquired 157.5 acres under a 99-year lease in Namanve Industrial Park.
By Mary Karugaba
MPs on the economy committee have quizzed Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director, Dr Maggie Kigozi, about how British American Tobacco (BATU) acquired 157.5 acres under a 99-year lease in Namanve Industrial Park.
The committee, chaired by Nandala Mafabi, also asked how businessman, James Mulwana, got land in the middle of the park before the loan to develop the land was approved.
Kigozi and lands state minister, Baguma Isoke, were giving justification for the $70m (sh120.4b) loan request for development of the industrial park.
The committee said UIA had not considered other investors.
The legislators said on Wednesday that the 99- year lease is very long because the company has not started operations.
They said the years should be reduced to between five and 10 so that the land can be returned to the owner if BATU fails to fulfil its obligations.
However, Kigozi said UIA had considered BATU’s investment plan before giving it land. She said BATU needed the land urgently “because its factory is in a small place and it needs to expand.â€
Kigozi said there is a land allocation policy for Namanve and all companies which want the land can get it after fulfiling the requirements.
She said the lease should not worry the MPs because according to the policy, the Government has a right to re-possess the land when BATU fails to develop it within the stipulated time.
Isoke said Mulwana is part of many private owners who had land before the Government gazetted the area.
MPs on the economy committee have quizzed Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director, Dr Maggie Kigozi, about how British American Tobacco (BATU) acquired 157.5 acres under a 99-year lease in Namanve Industrial Park.
The committee, chaired by Nandala Mafabi, also asked how businessman, James Mulwana, got land in the middle of the park before the loan to develop the land was approved.
Kigozi and lands state minister, Baguma Isoke, were giving justification for the $70m (sh120.4b) loan request for development of the industrial park.
The committee said UIA had not considered other investors.
The legislators said on Wednesday that the 99- year lease is very long because the company has not started operations.
They said the years should be reduced to between five and 10 so that the land can be returned to the owner if BATU fails to fulfil its obligations.
However, Kigozi said UIA had considered BATU’s investment plan before giving it land. She said BATU needed the land urgently “because its factory is in a small place and it needs to expand.â€
Kigozi said there is a land allocation policy for Namanve and all companies which want the land can get it after fulfiling the requirements.
She said the lease should not worry the MPs because according to the policy, the Government has a right to re-possess the land when BATU fails to develop it within the stipulated time.
Isoke said Mulwana is part of many private owners who had land before the Government gazetted the area.