Shumuk clarifies on $20m expansion plan
Jul 01, 2008
ALUMINIUM giant, the Shumuk Group, has defended its development on Plot 9 Mukabya Road in Nakawa, Kampala. The firm also denied clashing with transmission agency, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (UETCL) over the development on the plot.
By Chris Omony
ALUMINIUM giant, the Shumuk Group, has defended its development on Plot 9 Mukabya Road in Nakawa, Kampala. The firm also denied clashing with transmission agency, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (UETCL) over the development on the plot.
The firm is constructing a $20m recreation park, an office block and assembling plant for its pre-fabricated aluminium products on the plot.
Press reports indicated that the project was compromising the stability of the electricity pylons around the area, threatening to prolong load-shedding in the central and western regions.
However, Patrick Muhairwoha, the project coordinator, denied any wrangles or interference with the UETCL infrastructure.
He said the project had been cleared by the environment watchdog, the National Environment Management Authority, (NEMA).
“We are abiding by all set rules by NEMA in their assessment report, and we remain committed to working by the set guidelines.
“We also commit to remain in harmony with the UETCL on the same,†Muhairwoha told reporters on Friday in Kampala.
“Shumuk as a company is not in anyway against any development set up by the Government or its bodies.
“We as a company are committed to the developing this country. That is why we are developing this plot to create jobs for over 250 people,†he noted.
Muhairwoha said the power line was not tempered with because the contractors left a 15-metre radius away from the pylons and a 11-metre vertical distance as a requirement from UETCL.
“We have honoured their (UETCL) requirements and strictly instructed our contractor to abide by them.
“The only problem was that UETCL wanted to have their own engineers on the site to monitor the progress, which we had not yet implemented.
“Otherwise, we are ready to work with them. We asked them to send their over,†he added.
Muhairwoha disclosed that Shumuk acquired a five-year lease for the plot from the Kampala City Council, which approved the project.
ALUMINIUM giant, the Shumuk Group, has defended its development on Plot 9 Mukabya Road in Nakawa, Kampala. The firm also denied clashing with transmission agency, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (UETCL) over the development on the plot.
The firm is constructing a $20m recreation park, an office block and assembling plant for its pre-fabricated aluminium products on the plot.
Press reports indicated that the project was compromising the stability of the electricity pylons around the area, threatening to prolong load-shedding in the central and western regions.
However, Patrick Muhairwoha, the project coordinator, denied any wrangles or interference with the UETCL infrastructure.
He said the project had been cleared by the environment watchdog, the National Environment Management Authority, (NEMA).
“We are abiding by all set rules by NEMA in their assessment report, and we remain committed to working by the set guidelines.
“We also commit to remain in harmony with the UETCL on the same,†Muhairwoha told reporters on Friday in Kampala.
“Shumuk as a company is not in anyway against any development set up by the Government or its bodies.
“We as a company are committed to the developing this country. That is why we are developing this plot to create jobs for over 250 people,†he noted.
Muhairwoha said the power line was not tempered with because the contractors left a 15-metre radius away from the pylons and a 11-metre vertical distance as a requirement from UETCL.
“We have honoured their (UETCL) requirements and strictly instructed our contractor to abide by them.
“The only problem was that UETCL wanted to have their own engineers on the site to monitor the progress, which we had not yet implemented.
“Otherwise, we are ready to work with them. We asked them to send their over,†he added.
Muhairwoha disclosed that Shumuk acquired a five-year lease for the plot from the Kampala City Council, which approved the project.