Iganga gives wetland to investor
Nov 26, 2008
IGANGA district council on Monday unanimously agreed to give away the Naigombwa wetland to a foreign investor introduced by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) secretariat.<br>
By George Bita
IGANGA district council on Monday unanimously agreed to give away the Naigombwa wetland to a foreign investor introduced by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) secretariat.
The speaker, Willy Magala, read to the council, sitting at their chambers in Iganga town, a letter from the NAADS executive director introducing Palm-Oil (U) Ltd to the district chairman, Asuman Kyafu .
“The letter to Kyafu was welcome since we had got a much-needed investor to utilise the swampy area in Bugweri county. NAADS went ahead to sponsor this session to enable councillors deliberate and resolve the matter,†said Magala.
However, some councillors led by Patrick Kayemba (Bulamagi) and Samuel Kakyada (Bulongo), queried NAADS involvement in the session.
“This decision to sponsor us is more or less a bribe. What has happened to the funds meant for such meetings?†Kayemba asked.
Kyafu replied: “Let our immediate concern be to pass the resolution. The rest shall be ironed out later.â€
Kayemba wondered whether the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had cleared the impending development of the wetland.
Kakyada warned that the Naigombwa wetland matter was being rushed and could meet resistance like the Spencon Ltd take-over of Lumbuye swamp in 2006.
“There is no way you can pretend to go to sensitise locals about a project that you have already given a go-ahead. Why not first seek people’s views before we meet to resolve this?†Kakyada asked.
Councillors were handed brown envelopes before the session, which allegedly contained money ranging from sh400,000 to sh1m depending on the representative’s status.
Dan Kibira, representing Nawampiti, expressed concern that the Naigombwa wetland project could jeopardise the Government's Bonna bagaggawale (wealth-for-all) programme as farmers will be displaced from their rice gardens.
IGANGA district council on Monday unanimously agreed to give away the Naigombwa wetland to a foreign investor introduced by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) secretariat.
The speaker, Willy Magala, read to the council, sitting at their chambers in Iganga town, a letter from the NAADS executive director introducing Palm-Oil (U) Ltd to the district chairman, Asuman Kyafu .
“The letter to Kyafu was welcome since we had got a much-needed investor to utilise the swampy area in Bugweri county. NAADS went ahead to sponsor this session to enable councillors deliberate and resolve the matter,†said Magala.
However, some councillors led by Patrick Kayemba (Bulamagi) and Samuel Kakyada (Bulongo), queried NAADS involvement in the session.
“This decision to sponsor us is more or less a bribe. What has happened to the funds meant for such meetings?†Kayemba asked.
Kyafu replied: “Let our immediate concern be to pass the resolution. The rest shall be ironed out later.â€
Kayemba wondered whether the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) had cleared the impending development of the wetland.
Kakyada warned that the Naigombwa wetland matter was being rushed and could meet resistance like the Spencon Ltd take-over of Lumbuye swamp in 2006.
“There is no way you can pretend to go to sensitise locals about a project that you have already given a go-ahead. Why not first seek people’s views before we meet to resolve this?†Kakyada asked.
Councillors were handed brown envelopes before the session, which allegedly contained money ranging from sh400,000 to sh1m depending on the representative’s status.
Dan Kibira, representing Nawampiti, expressed concern that the Naigombwa wetland project could jeopardise the Government's Bonna bagaggawale (wealth-for-all) programme as farmers will be displaced from their rice gardens.