Minister Otafiire raps IGG over estates
LOCAL Government minister Kahinda Otafiire has accused the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Faith Mwondha, of undermining his authority as a senior minister.
By Cyprian Musoke
LOCAL Government minister Kahinda Otafiire has accused the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Faith Mwondha, of undermining his authority as a senior minister.
Addressing the Uganda Journalist Association weekly press conference in Kampala yesterday, Otafiire lashed out at Mwondha for attempting to run his office.
Asked whether the IGG was sane when she accused him of having interests in the Naguru estate, Otafiire responded: “I would say to her; you don’t know what you are doing. You are just confused, drank and wasting my time. Tontamiirirako-twala eri ettamiiro (I am not party to your drunkenness).â€
He challenged her to produce evidence that he had personal interest in Naguru Housing Estate.
“This is now outright interference by the IGG in my department. What she is doing is unacceptable. I don’t deploy people in her department, why does she write to my juniors revoking orders I have given?†he asked.
Otafiire asked: “Does the IGG need a full academic year at the university to find out that Otafiire made a mistake? If he did, why don’t you get rid of Otafiire? Why should I be a stumbling block to the development of the country?â€
He said the tenants of Naguru had mistaken themselves to be bibanja holders (landlords), adding that their tenancy with Kampala City Council was terminated once the buildings were condemned and they stopped paying rent five years ago.
“Once you have not been paying rent, then the tenancy relationship between you and the landlord ceases. The houses in Naguru were condemned, therefore, KCC cannot collect rent from them,†he said.
The minister explained that it was illegal to reside in condemned houses.
The first eviction notice, he added, was issued by his predecessor, Tarsis Kabwegyere.
“He met the tenants and they agreed to vacate the area to pave wave way for the redevelopment of the plots. It was agreed that they would be given the first option to buy but not to rent the flats.
“This means that if they fail to raise the money, the chance will be given to somebody else.â€
The minister added: “Without those tenants leaving, how would the developer put up those flats? That’s the question I am putting to the IGG. I have not seen any flats built in the sky.â€
On Monday, tenants of the Naguru and Nakawa estates agreed to meet with the prospective developers and the Government to resolve the case in which they are objecting to the eviction.
The meeting is scheduled to take place today in the Attorney General’s chambers.
The estates were built by the British colonial administration in the early 1950s to provide accommodation for low-income workers. Currently, 900 families live in Nakawa estate and another 7,000 in Naguru.
Under the new plan, the estates will be transformed into a modern satellite town of 1,700 flats, bungalows and commercial blocks.
But the IGG stopped the eviction after the tenants complained to her that the ministry had mismanaged the project. Last week, Mwondha directed them to ignore Otafiire’s notice that they were meant to vacate by July 12.
LOCAL Government minister Kahinda Otafiire has accused the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Faith Mwondha, of undermining his authority as a senior minister.
Addressing the Uganda Journalist Association weekly press conference in Kampala yesterday, Otafiire lashed out at Mwondha for attempting to run his office.
Asked whether the IGG was sane when she accused him of having interests in the Naguru estate, Otafiire responded: “I would say to her; you don’t know what you are doing. You are just confused, drank and wasting my time. Tontamiirirako-twala eri ettamiiro (I am not party to your drunkenness).â€
He challenged her to produce evidence that he had personal interest in Naguru Housing Estate.
“This is now outright interference by the IGG in my department. What she is doing is unacceptable. I don’t deploy people in her department, why does she write to my juniors revoking orders I have given?†he asked.
Otafiire asked: “Does the IGG need a full academic year at the university to find out that Otafiire made a mistake? If he did, why don’t you get rid of Otafiire? Why should I be a stumbling block to the development of the country?â€
He said the tenants of Naguru had mistaken themselves to be bibanja holders (landlords), adding that their tenancy with Kampala City Council was terminated once the buildings were condemned and they stopped paying rent five years ago.
“Once you have not been paying rent, then the tenancy relationship between you and the landlord ceases. The houses in Naguru were condemned, therefore, KCC cannot collect rent from them,†he said.
The minister explained that it was illegal to reside in condemned houses.
The first eviction notice, he added, was issued by his predecessor, Tarsis Kabwegyere.
“He met the tenants and they agreed to vacate the area to pave wave way for the redevelopment of the plots. It was agreed that they would be given the first option to buy but not to rent the flats.
“This means that if they fail to raise the money, the chance will be given to somebody else.â€
The minister added: “Without those tenants leaving, how would the developer put up those flats? That’s the question I am putting to the IGG. I have not seen any flats built in the sky.â€
On Monday, tenants of the Naguru and Nakawa estates agreed to meet with the prospective developers and the Government to resolve the case in which they are objecting to the eviction.
The meeting is scheduled to take place today in the Attorney General’s chambers.
The estates were built by the British colonial administration in the early 1950s to provide accommodation for low-income workers. Currently, 900 families live in Nakawa estate and another 7,000 in Naguru.
Under the new plan, the estates will be transformed into a modern satellite town of 1,700 flats, bungalows and commercial blocks.
But the IGG stopped the eviction after the tenants complained to her that the ministry had mismanaged the project. Last week, Mwondha directed them to ignore Otafiire’s notice that they were meant to vacate by July 12.