Ex-MP’s firm denies selling UBC land
DIRECTORS of Extreme Innovations, a local company, have refuted claims that they illegally acquired Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) land and sold it.
By VISION REPORTER
DIRECTORS of Extreme Innovations, a local company, have refuted claims that they illegally acquired Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) land and sold it.
According Margaret Muhanga, a co-director in the company, UBC invited bids from companies that could develop the land on Kibira Road in Kampala. The other directors are Mary Karooro Okurut and David Kibuuka.
Extreme Innovations, which wanted to set up a gumboots factory, expressed interest, she told New Vision yesterday.
In a February 16, 2009 letter, then information minister Kirunda Kivenjinja ordered the UBC board to give the land to Extreme Innovations.
“I, therefore, direct that...2 (two) acres to Extreme Innovations Ltd for the establishment of a footwear manufacturing company...,†the letter read in part.
Complying with Kivejinja’s directive, Muhanga said, UBC directors later asked them to pay for the land.
“The directors at the said meeting agreed to implement the line minister’s directive by allocating two acres of the land to Extreme Innovations Limited on a 49-year lease,†Emmanuel Emoru wrote on behalf of the managing director.
“....Extreme Innovations will pay Uganda Broadcasting Corporation a total of Ug. Shs 957, 454, 648 as consideration for the two acres.â€
But before the company paid, engineers told them that they would need millions to fill murram in the “marsh†before developing it, Muhanga said.
And because the proprietors of Sino East Africa Trade Development Company, a Chinese company had already acquired land in the area, Muhanga and her colleagues ceded their rights.
“We wish to inform you that in our board of directors’ meeting held on July 27, 2010, we resolved to transfer all our rights on the said land to Sino East Africa Trade Development Company on the same terms and conditions, save for the usage of the land,†reads a July 28, 2010 letter.
“We never sold the land. There was no financial benefit. We chose the Chinese company because it had been involved in negotiations with UBC over the land. Besides, they had the money,†Muhanga said. According to her, no plot in Bugolobi would cost $1m as alleged in the press.
Extreme Innovations, Muhanga added, has continued requesting the Government for land in vain.
Meanwhile, Sino East Africa Trade Development Company boss Wang Shu Jun yesterday produced proof of paying UBC for the land he is developing.
He showed New Vision receipts totalling over sh1b.
Jun explained that he paid the full amount after UBC said the 60 cheques worth sh20m each he had offered them would delay. Sino East Africa Trade Development Company is now constructing an over $8b regional export development centre on the land.
DIRECTORS of Extreme Innovations, a local company, have refuted claims that they illegally acquired Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) land and sold it.
According Margaret Muhanga, a co-director in the company, UBC invited bids from companies that could develop the land on Kibira Road in Kampala. The other directors are Mary Karooro Okurut and David Kibuuka.
Extreme Innovations, which wanted to set up a gumboots factory, expressed interest, she told New Vision yesterday.
In a February 16, 2009 letter, then information minister Kirunda Kivenjinja ordered the UBC board to give the land to Extreme Innovations.
“I, therefore, direct that...2 (two) acres to Extreme Innovations Ltd for the establishment of a footwear manufacturing company...,†the letter read in part.
Complying with Kivejinja’s directive, Muhanga said, UBC directors later asked them to pay for the land.
“The directors at the said meeting agreed to implement the line minister’s directive by allocating two acres of the land to Extreme Innovations Limited on a 49-year lease,†Emmanuel Emoru wrote on behalf of the managing director.
“....Extreme Innovations will pay Uganda Broadcasting Corporation a total of Ug. Shs 957, 454, 648 as consideration for the two acres.â€
But before the company paid, engineers told them that they would need millions to fill murram in the “marsh†before developing it, Muhanga said.
And because the proprietors of Sino East Africa Trade Development Company, a Chinese company had already acquired land in the area, Muhanga and her colleagues ceded their rights.
“We wish to inform you that in our board of directors’ meeting held on July 27, 2010, we resolved to transfer all our rights on the said land to Sino East Africa Trade Development Company on the same terms and conditions, save for the usage of the land,†reads a July 28, 2010 letter.
“We never sold the land. There was no financial benefit. We chose the Chinese company because it had been involved in negotiations with UBC over the land. Besides, they had the money,†Muhanga said. According to her, no plot in Bugolobi would cost $1m as alleged in the press.
Extreme Innovations, Muhanga added, has continued requesting the Government for land in vain.
Meanwhile, Sino East Africa Trade Development Company boss Wang Shu Jun yesterday produced proof of paying UBC for the land he is developing.
He showed New Vision receipts totalling over sh1b.
Jun explained that he paid the full amount after UBC said the 60 cheques worth sh20m each he had offered them would delay. Sino East Africa Trade Development Company is now constructing an over $8b regional export development centre on the land.