Kenyan Asians Own US$14m Golf Course Hotel

By Yunusu Abbey THE company constructing a US$14m hotel at the Golf Course in Kampala belongs to Kenyans of Asian origin and a firm based in the British Virgin Island. The New Vision yesterday established that Golf Course Holdings Ltd belongs to Manushuhlal H. Chotai and Amerjeet S. Virdee, both holding a share each and Sparrow H. Hawk Investments Ltd. which has 98 shares. The company directors are Manushuhlal H. Chotai, Amerjeet S. Virdee, Mr. Allan Shonubi, a Kampala lawyer, and Mr. Joseph Behakanira, both Ugandans. The directors were appointed at the company's extra-ordinary meeting held in Kampala on October 14, 1999. The Golf Course Hotel project, which some Members of Parliament had queried, is situated on Plot 64-84 on Yusuf Lule Road. On Wednesday, the MPs had asked Mr. Baguma Isoke, the state minister for lands, to name the project owners. They claimed there was suspicion over the ownership. According to records, Golf Course Holdings was registered in Kampala on March 18, 1999, and issued with a certificate of incorporation No. 40254. The same company owns the Golf Course Apartments. Sources said Sparrow H. Hawk Investments, the major shareholders, is based in the British Virgin Island. But it gave its address as c/o Lubbock Fine Russel-Bedford House, City Forum 250 City Road, London EC IV QQ, United Kingdom. "The golf course project is expected to cost US$14m, including the contractors and architects fees," a source said. "It will be built in three phases. Phase one is a US$3.6m four-storeyed shopping mall. The rest would be a six-storeyed hotel and four-storeyed apartments," he said. The building plan was submitted to KCC on June 14, 1999 and was okayed on June 16, 1999. The land, covering 2.729 hectares, was originally registered in the names of Betuco, a local firm. Ends