Tycoon Sudhir claims CMI land
Apr 10, 2008
PROPERTY mogul Sudhir Ruparelia yesterday maintained that the 6.2 acres of land occupied by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) in Kitante belongs to him.
Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
and Peter Kaujju
PROPERTY mogul Sudhir Ruparelia yesterday maintained that the 6.2 acres of land occupied by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) in Kitante belongs to him.
If the land is put on sale, he said, he would sue the defence ministry.
The Government offered Sudhir the land situated on Yusuf Lule Road in 2006 in exchange for the Shimoni land, which had been allocated to him, but was instead given to a Saudi Arabian investor.
“We are the lawful owners of the CMI land. If anybody tries to do anything illegal, the law will take its course,†Sudhir said.
The Uganda Land Commission, he added, had processed all the requirements for him to develop the land.
“Anybody who has issues should address them with the commission.â€
Sudhir insisted the ministry had no ground to turn around and claim that the land was undervalued.
“We are the registered proprietors of that and we should be protected by the Constitution.â€
He denied being invited by the ministry to a meeting regarding the land.
Sudhir said he registered the land under his company Speke Hotel, on October 31, 2006, after paying the full amount required by the commission.
Acting permanent secretary Rosette Byengoma said it would be sold to private developers.
Byengoma said Sudhir paid only sh168m, part of the sh3b that the commission asked for. But the Government Valuer put the price at sh21b.
The Cabinet last month authorised the ministry to sell the land through competitive bidding.
and Peter Kaujju
PROPERTY mogul Sudhir Ruparelia yesterday maintained that the 6.2 acres of land occupied by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) in Kitante belongs to him.
If the land is put on sale, he said, he would sue the defence ministry.
The Government offered Sudhir the land situated on Yusuf Lule Road in 2006 in exchange for the Shimoni land, which had been allocated to him, but was instead given to a Saudi Arabian investor.
“We are the lawful owners of the CMI land. If anybody tries to do anything illegal, the law will take its course,†Sudhir said.
The Uganda Land Commission, he added, had processed all the requirements for him to develop the land.
“Anybody who has issues should address them with the commission.â€
Sudhir insisted the ministry had no ground to turn around and claim that the land was undervalued.
“We are the registered proprietors of that and we should be protected by the Constitution.â€
He denied being invited by the ministry to a meeting regarding the land.
Sudhir said he registered the land under his company Speke Hotel, on October 31, 2006, after paying the full amount required by the commission.
Acting permanent secretary Rosette Byengoma said it would be sold to private developers.
Byengoma said Sudhir paid only sh168m, part of the sh3b that the commission asked for. But the Government Valuer put the price at sh21b.
The Cabinet last month authorised the ministry to sell the land through competitive bidding.