Clear UBC TV land uncertainities
May 10, 2006
CONTROVERSY surrounds the allocation of a prime plot of land in the Nakasero suburb of Kampala. The land, on which the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation TV, the Ministry of Information and other departments are based, was given to the Mohammed Brothers of AYA Investments, a Sudanese business, to const
CONTROVERSY surrounds the allocation of a prime plot of land in the Nakasero suburb of Kampala. The land, on which the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation TV, the Ministry of Information and other departments are based, was given to the Mohammed Brothers of AYA Investments, a Sudanese business, to construct a five-star hotel.
At $90m, the hotel would be a substantial investment, improving the hospitality industry, and the economy would welcome such an injection of capital.
There are, however, a number of issues that need to be ironed out. Have the prospective investors, who are taking land worth probably as much as $10m, executed a performance bond? What is the actual agreement? The relocation of UBC TV’s operations is a huge undertaking. Can UBC actually relocate its massive equipment and be able to operate smoothly? The technical people there are worried about TV signals, what with the football World Cup, unquestionably UBC’s single biggest viewer attraction, just one month away?
What is UBC’s long-term viability in a new location? UBC has just been reorganised, and is short on finances, and yet no money has been provided for it to relocate.
The hotel is expected to be a twin tower, multiple storey complex. Being in the vicinity of State House, this may bear security implications for the Head of State’s place of abode. All Saints Church, the venerated cathedral next door, is complaining about the cutoff of access roads and is fearful of encroachment on church land where they plan to expand. Have proper surveys been carried out? If the land is actually 15 acres and the Sudanese have been given 12, what has happened to the other three?
There is a technical committee appointed by the Vice-President to oversee the issue. This committee must look into these numerous questions so that nothing is handled haphazardly.
At $90m, the hotel would be a substantial investment, improving the hospitality industry, and the economy would welcome such an injection of capital.
There are, however, a number of issues that need to be ironed out. Have the prospective investors, who are taking land worth probably as much as $10m, executed a performance bond? What is the actual agreement? The relocation of UBC TV’s operations is a huge undertaking. Can UBC actually relocate its massive equipment and be able to operate smoothly? The technical people there are worried about TV signals, what with the football World Cup, unquestionably UBC’s single biggest viewer attraction, just one month away?
What is UBC’s long-term viability in a new location? UBC has just been reorganised, and is short on finances, and yet no money has been provided for it to relocate.
The hotel is expected to be a twin tower, multiple storey complex. Being in the vicinity of State House, this may bear security implications for the Head of State’s place of abode. All Saints Church, the venerated cathedral next door, is complaining about the cutoff of access roads and is fearful of encroachment on church land where they plan to expand. Have proper surveys been carried out? If the land is actually 15 acres and the Sudanese have been given 12, what has happened to the other three?
There is a technical committee appointed by the Vice-President to oversee the issue. This committee must look into these numerous questions so that nothing is handled haphazardly.