Closed malls yet to comply with law - KCCA

Nov 12, 2014

KAMPALA Capital City Authority (KCCA) has said there is no way out for the owners of the closed shopping malls in the city other than complying with the set construction standards

By Alfred Wandera

 

KAMPALA Capital City Authority (KCCA) has said there is no way out for the owners of the closed shopping malls in the city other than complying with the set construction standards as businesses premised in the affected malls continue counting losses.

 

KCCA deputy spokesperson, Robert Kalumba, told New Vision that none of the owners of Haruna Towers in Ntinda and a three-storey building under construction on Sports Lane opposite Forest Mall in Lugogo, have made any attempt to comply with the standards since the two buildings were closed.

 

“KCCA did their part and we are waiting for the owners of those buildings to comply with the set construction standards before their premises can be opened,” said Kalumba.

 

Haruna Towers, owned by city businessman Haruna Sentongo was closed early this month by KCCA due to an altered building plan whereas the building opposite Forest Mall, owned by businessman Stanislaus Isiagi was sealed off on Tuesday because it does not have an approved plan nor an occupational permit.

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Forest Mall in Lugogo was closed by KCCA on Tuesday because the building lacked occupational permit. Photo by Kennedy Oryema

However, Edward Nakibinge, one of the directors of Haruna Enterprises, the owners of Haruna Towers in Ntinda, insisted that they had been allowed by KCCA to reopen the premises as the processing of their occupational permit goes on.

 

“We applied for the occupational permit long ago but KCCA says they are still processing it but they have allowed us to open,” said Nakibinge.

 

A visit by New Vision to Haruna Towers established that the building’s main gate was open although no business was taking place there. 

 

However, the building under construction opposite Forest Mall was still sealed off and only security guards were around to secure the closed lock-up shops.

 

Efforts to contact the management of Forest Mall, also the owners of the sealed building under construction, were futile as the workers found in the management office said they are not authorized to speak to the media.

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