Butabika Hospital land sold off
Dec 03, 2008
THE land owned by Butabika Mental Referral Hospital has been reduced to 190 acres from 620 acres. <br>
By Mary Karugaba
THE land owned by Butabika Mental Referral Hospital has been reduced to 190 acres from 620 acres.
The director, Dr. Fred Kigozi, told MPs that the rest of the land was sold to private developers by the Uganda Land Commission.
Some of the high-profile buyers include Maj. Gen. Ivan Koreta, Geoffrey and Diana Kamuntu (son-in-law and daughter of President Museveni), Edwin Karugire (Museveni’s son-in-law), Godfrey Nyakaana (Kampala central division chairman) and FDC’s Sam Njuba.
Other investors include Royal Palms housing estate, which is set to establish over 1,400 housing units.
“The hospital has since received a certified copy of the title for the remaining land,†Kigozi told the public accounts committee recently.
Kigozi was appearing before the committee to answer queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the 2006/2007 financial year.
Asked how he felt about the move, Kigozi said: “Butabika is a Government institution. How can I fight the Government?†he asked.
The committee, earlier this year, halted any development on the land, saying the selling was illegal.
Kigozi also told MPs that there was an increase in cases of drugs and alcohol addicts at the hospital.
The senior consultant psychiatrist, Dr. David Basangwa, said the addicted patients accounted for 20% of the admissions.
He attributed the problem to lack of regulations on alcohol and drug consumption.
Basangwa said the commonly used drugs were cocaine, marijuana and heroin, and called on the Government to make laws that prohibi their sale and consumption.
THE land owned by Butabika Mental Referral Hospital has been reduced to 190 acres from 620 acres.
The director, Dr. Fred Kigozi, told MPs that the rest of the land was sold to private developers by the Uganda Land Commission.
Some of the high-profile buyers include Maj. Gen. Ivan Koreta, Geoffrey and Diana Kamuntu (son-in-law and daughter of President Museveni), Edwin Karugire (Museveni’s son-in-law), Godfrey Nyakaana (Kampala central division chairman) and FDC’s Sam Njuba.
Other investors include Royal Palms housing estate, which is set to establish over 1,400 housing units.
“The hospital has since received a certified copy of the title for the remaining land,†Kigozi told the public accounts committee recently.
Kigozi was appearing before the committee to answer queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the 2006/2007 financial year.
Asked how he felt about the move, Kigozi said: “Butabika is a Government institution. How can I fight the Government?†he asked.
The committee, earlier this year, halted any development on the land, saying the selling was illegal.
Kigozi also told MPs that there was an increase in cases of drugs and alcohol addicts at the hospital.
The senior consultant psychiatrist, Dr. David Basangwa, said the addicted patients accounted for 20% of the admissions.
He attributed the problem to lack of regulations on alcohol and drug consumption.
Basangwa said the commonly used drugs were cocaine, marijuana and heroin, and called on the Government to make laws that prohibi their sale and consumption.