UIA battles with Namanve encroachers
Aug 21, 2008
THE Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is battling encroachers on the $150m Kampala Industrial and Business Park site in Namanve.
By Joel Ogwang
THE Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is battling encroachers on the $150m Kampala Industrial and Business Park site in Namanve.
About 30 encroachers on the 896 acres have been burning charcoal and bricks for sale on the previously idle land.
However, during a tour of the site, Arthur Bwire, the UIA director of industrial parks development, said: “You are illegally occupying government land and should vacate since it is now being developed.â€
Bwire’s remarks follow commencement of earthworks on the project, which is funded by the Government and World Bank.
“I told them to quit even before the earthworks kicked off, but they have not heeded,†he said.
The first phase of the project will cost $26m. It will involve opening internal road networks to sub-grade level and River Namanve’s drainage.
Spencon Services beat five companies to win the sh9.7b contract. It will also provide facilities for inland ports for the next 10 months and set up a materials testing laboratory, offices for engineers and UIA and park yards.
Bwire urged the encroachers to shift their properties or risk losing them. “If they don’t heed, we will use graders to clear the bricks,†he said.
UIA is also working with Local Council chiefs from Seeta and Bweyogerere to ensure there is no more trespassing on the site.
A team of World Bank officials led by Dr. Maggie Kigozi, the UIA executive director, recently visited Namanve to ascertain the project’s feasibility.
Namanve is one of the 22 industrial parks that are going to be developed countrywide so as to create more jobs. Others will be built in Gulu, Arua, Lira and Soroti.
THE Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is battling encroachers on the $150m Kampala Industrial and Business Park site in Namanve.
About 30 encroachers on the 896 acres have been burning charcoal and bricks for sale on the previously idle land.
However, during a tour of the site, Arthur Bwire, the UIA director of industrial parks development, said: “You are illegally occupying government land and should vacate since it is now being developed.â€
Bwire’s remarks follow commencement of earthworks on the project, which is funded by the Government and World Bank.
“I told them to quit even before the earthworks kicked off, but they have not heeded,†he said.
The first phase of the project will cost $26m. It will involve opening internal road networks to sub-grade level and River Namanve’s drainage.
Spencon Services beat five companies to win the sh9.7b contract. It will also provide facilities for inland ports for the next 10 months and set up a materials testing laboratory, offices for engineers and UIA and park yards.
Bwire urged the encroachers to shift their properties or risk losing them. “If they don’t heed, we will use graders to clear the bricks,†he said.
UIA is also working with Local Council chiefs from Seeta and Bweyogerere to ensure there is no more trespassing on the site.
A team of World Bank officials led by Dr. Maggie Kigozi, the UIA executive director, recently visited Namanve to ascertain the project’s feasibility.
Namanve is one of the 22 industrial parks that are going to be developed countrywide so as to create more jobs. Others will be built in Gulu, Arua, Lira and Soroti.