City tenants survive eviction
Jul 16, 2008
THE National Housing and Construction Corporation chairman, Joseph Kitamirike, has suspended the eviction order for Buganda Road tenants, pending instructions from parliament.
By Mary Karugaba
THE National Housing and Construction Corporation chief execitive, Joseph Kitamirike, has suspended the eviction order for Buganda Road tenants, pending instructions from parliament.
Last month, the corporation ordered the tenants to relocate to Namungona housing estates. The order was to expire on July 31.
The corporation plans to redevelop the land located in the centre of Kampala city into a modern commercial centre.
The corporation board chairman, Keith Muhakanizi, told MPs yesterday that the board had offered alternative accommodation to the tenants in Namungona at sh82m per unit. Muhakanizi said the tenants were also free to buy flats in Naalya.
“On commencement of the project, the current occupants shall be offered rent-free accommodation at the Buganda Road flats for a year.
“Upon completion of the new flats and the expiry of the one-year rent-free period, the tenants would be requested to relocate to the new flats,†he said.
He said the poor state of the flats was not the basis for the board’s decision to redevelop the land. He added that the flats had not been condemned by Kampala City Council.
Muhakanizi said the relationship between the corporation and the tenants was one of a landlord-tenant nature.
“The tenant does not own the property and his rights are limited. The property accordingly remains the property of the corporation and the tenants only enjoy the land in as far as agreed with us,†Muhakanizi explained.
THE National Housing and Construction Corporation chief execitive, Joseph Kitamirike, has suspended the eviction order for Buganda Road tenants, pending instructions from parliament.
Last month, the corporation ordered the tenants to relocate to Namungona housing estates. The order was to expire on July 31.
The corporation plans to redevelop the land located in the centre of Kampala city into a modern commercial centre.
The corporation board chairman, Keith Muhakanizi, told MPs yesterday that the board had offered alternative accommodation to the tenants in Namungona at sh82m per unit. Muhakanizi said the tenants were also free to buy flats in Naalya.
“On commencement of the project, the current occupants shall be offered rent-free accommodation at the Buganda Road flats for a year.
“Upon completion of the new flats and the expiry of the one-year rent-free period, the tenants would be requested to relocate to the new flats,†he said.
He said the poor state of the flats was not the basis for the board’s decision to redevelop the land. He added that the flats had not been condemned by Kampala City Council.
Muhakanizi said the relationship between the corporation and the tenants was one of a landlord-tenant nature.
“The tenant does not own the property and his rights are limited. The property accordingly remains the property of the corporation and the tenants only enjoy the land in as far as agreed with us,†Muhakanizi explained.