Basajja: KCC defies parliament
Feb 04, 2007
IN a dramatic twist, Hassan Basajjabalaba, whose contracts to manage Nakasero and Owino markets were supposed to be cancelled yesterday, has instead been given a new deal.
By Florence Nakaayi and Joyce Namutebi
IN a dramatic twist, Hassan Basajjabalaba, whose contracts to manage Nakasero and Owino markets were supposed to be cancelled yesterday, has instead been given a new deal.
The Kampala District council resolved that the city tycoon, who owes KCC almost sh5b, gets a 70% share in developing Nakasero Market, while the vendors get 30%.
On Thursday, when grilled by a parliamentary committee, the acting town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, promised that she would write the termination letters on Friday.
But Kampala mayor, Nasser Sebaggala, yesterday dismissed the instructions by Parliament.
“We are not bound by the directives of the (parliamentary) committee,†he told The New Vision. “KCC is an authority of its own. What we decided is to give Sheila Investments 70% and the vendors 30%.â€
Asked how they can still do business with a man who owes KCC billions, Sebaggala replied: “The fact remains that he has put some development on the market.â€
Meanwhile, Basajjabalaba’s lawyers have threatened to take court action against KCC unless it had handed over the land titles by yesterday, a source said.
The two land titles for the controversial plots on Nakasero Market, which the city tycoon leased for 49 years for a paltry sh248m, were yesterday handed over to the parliamentary committee.
“We cannot give him the land titles because this is a sub-lease. We agreed to sub-lease the market for 70% to Sheila Investments. We are going to write to the land board which will give him a certificate,†Sebaggala said. In a letter of January 20, the deputy town clerk, William Tumwine instructed the city advocate to immediately release the land titles to Sheila Investments. The city advocate reportedly replied that they could not be released without a resolution of the KCC executive.
Reacting to KCC’s U-turn, the vice-chairman of the parliamentary committee said the decision was illegal.
“The contract with Sheila Investments is null and void,†David Chan Ringe said.
“The council must make lawful decisions. The order of Parliament still stands.â€
He added that the committee had ordered the arrest of Tumwine, for illegally being in possession of the second title for Nakasero Market.
However, by press time, Tumwine was still in his office.
IN a dramatic twist, Hassan Basajjabalaba, whose contracts to manage Nakasero and Owino markets were supposed to be cancelled yesterday, has instead been given a new deal.
The Kampala District council resolved that the city tycoon, who owes KCC almost sh5b, gets a 70% share in developing Nakasero Market, while the vendors get 30%.
On Thursday, when grilled by a parliamentary committee, the acting town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, promised that she would write the termination letters on Friday.
But Kampala mayor, Nasser Sebaggala, yesterday dismissed the instructions by Parliament.
“We are not bound by the directives of the (parliamentary) committee,†he told The New Vision. “KCC is an authority of its own. What we decided is to give Sheila Investments 70% and the vendors 30%.â€
Asked how they can still do business with a man who owes KCC billions, Sebaggala replied: “The fact remains that he has put some development on the market.â€
Meanwhile, Basajjabalaba’s lawyers have threatened to take court action against KCC unless it had handed over the land titles by yesterday, a source said.
The two land titles for the controversial plots on Nakasero Market, which the city tycoon leased for 49 years for a paltry sh248m, were yesterday handed over to the parliamentary committee.
“We cannot give him the land titles because this is a sub-lease. We agreed to sub-lease the market for 70% to Sheila Investments. We are going to write to the land board which will give him a certificate,†Sebaggala said. In a letter of January 20, the deputy town clerk, William Tumwine instructed the city advocate to immediately release the land titles to Sheila Investments. The city advocate reportedly replied that they could not be released without a resolution of the KCC executive.
Reacting to KCC’s U-turn, the vice-chairman of the parliamentary committee said the decision was illegal.
“The contract with Sheila Investments is null and void,†David Chan Ringe said.
“The council must make lawful decisions. The order of Parliament still stands.â€
He added that the committee had ordered the arrest of Tumwine, for illegally being in possession of the second title for Nakasero Market.
However, by press time, Tumwine was still in his office.