Centenary Park: MPs order for demolition of illegal structures

Jul 06, 2017

It was not clear which exact structures will be demolished and who would incur the cost

MPs on the committee on state authorities and state enterprises have ordered for the demolition of the illegal structures in the controversial Centenary Park to pave way for the construction of the Kampala sewer project.

In a meeting attended by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the proprietors of the park represented by Godfrey Nyakana and the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura at Parliament on Thursday, the committee directed National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to immediately mobilise the contractor to start work.

Committee chairperson Abdu Katuntu however asked Police to ensure that the exercise is carried out in an orderly way to avoid the past incidents that resulted into violence when KCCA tried to forcefully evict the proprietors of the park.

Although the parties agreed that the demolition of all structures that are within the proposed sewer project area be demolished immediately, it was not clear which exact structures will be demolished and who would incur the cost.

It was also not clear who should demolish the structures though the Water Act puts the responsibility on the party that constructs the illegal structures on top of the water pipes.

Both KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi and the NWSC managing director Dr. Silver Mugisha said they were not going to incur the cost of demolition. They insisted that the proprietor should do it at his cost.

"The demolition involves money which we have to incur if we were to do it. The Act puts the responsibility on the owners of the structure," Musisi argued.

Nyakana did not say whether he was going to demolish the structures at his own cost.

 rank wesigwa the commander ampala etropolitan olice s ilver ugisha  ale ayihura and s ennifer usisilook on while alongo states odfrey yakana delivers remarks to the committee hoto by iriam amutebi(L-R) Frank Mwesigwa the commander Kampala Metropolitan Police, NWSC's Silver Mugisha, IGP Kale Kayihura, and KCCA's Jennifer Musisilook on while Nalongo Estates' Godfrey Nyakana delivers remarks to the committee. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

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Although Nyakana insisted that he had no problem with the structures being demolished, he insisted that it was only one.

He appealed to KCCA to conduct the exercise in a humane way to avoid confrontation and the past experience when they tried to forcefully re-enter the land.

"National Water can come and do the work as agreed and we have no problem. We all support the public infrastructure that is being proposed by government.  However, when National Water visited the site, it was only one structure that was supposed to be demolished. We are going to consult….." he said before Committee Chairman Abdu Katuntu interjected. 

Katuntu told Nyakana to stop holding government at ransom, insisting that the institutions should be allowed to work without any hindrance.

"Public infrastructure should be given first priority. National Water should immediately mobilise the contractors and start works. If they are buildings you know that are illegally built in the project area, you know what to do. Police should perform its constitutional mandate and ensure law and order," Katuntu directed.

He warned Nyakana against mobilizing "goons and kanyamas" to destruct the eviction.

"KCCA says that you have personally been involved in the matter and has engaged in the mobilisation of goons to disrupt the works of government," Katuntu said.

"I find that statement derogatory. If I had organized goons, wouldn't I have been a division mayor for two terms.  Your reference, Mr. Chairman kills my image all over the world" Nyakana said.

He asked the committee to also consult KCCA rather than taking decisions based on information provided by an individual, Musisi.

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