Basajjabalaba Takes City Square Deal

By Yunusu Abbey YUDAYA International Limited, a local private company, was yesterday awarded a multi-million dollar contract to re-develop the Constitution (formerly City) Square in Kampala. The Kampala District Tender Board, chaired by Hajji Faisal Kasujja, met yesterday and is reported to have awarded the contract after two meetings. Yudaya International belongs to a Kampala tycoon, Hajji Hassan Basajjabala, a leading hides and skins exporter. He is expected to inject $8m into the project. “The board first met on Tuesday this week and deliberated the matter. They reconvened today (yesterday) where a final verdict was made to award the tender to Yudaya International,” said a source. Simon Muhumuza, Kampala City Council (KCC) public relations officer, said, “The district tender board met today and awarded the contract to Yudaya International. I’m yet to get details.” Under the KCC plan, Yudaya International is expected to construct two buildings underground. A multi-storied building will be erected on the upper side facing the High Court. The upper part is said to be 5,950sq metres while the lower part on Kampala Road is 5,760sq metres. The buildings will comprise a shopping arcade, airline offices and travel bureaus among others. The open recreation grounds will remain on top, with flowers and lawn trees planted. The rental area on the upper side will be 3,090sq metres while the other on Kampala Road has about 1,311sq metres to be rented out. Unofficial reports said a local firm, ID Forum, drew the project plan. The complex will comprise an underground parking lot for about 100 cars. In May this year, Yudaya International paid Uganda Commercial Bank sh560m for the bank’s managing director’s mansion at Munyonyo on Lake Victoria shores. The luxurious house had never been occupied since completion in 1990. Basajjabalaba has recently acquired several properties in Kampala. The properties include former Rena Hotel at Bakuli, the Kansanga-based Kampala University premises and land sold to his Habo Group (U) Ltd. at sh1.7b and Lake View Regency Hotel, Mbarara which belonged to Gordon Wavamunno. Basajjabala Hides & Skins Ltd. is expected to construct a $7m modern commercial complex comprising 752 lock-ups and 188 compartments over Nakivubo Channel on Allen Road on a stretch covering nearly 1km from Kyaggwe Road Primary School to the Container Village on Nakivubo Place. Documents indicate that Makerere University’s Technology Consults Ltd drew the project plan. The KCC deal has attracted criticism from the public. Ends