27,000 Nakawa residents ordered out
Dec 04, 2007
THE Government has directed tenants of Naguru and Nakawa housing estates to vacate by the end of January to allow for the re-development of the area. The directive was communicated yesterday in a public notice by the Ministry of Local Government.
By Fred Ouma
and Josephine Maseruka
THE Government has directed tenants of Naguru and Nakawa housing estates to vacate by the end of January to allow for the re-development of the area. The directive was communicated yesterday in a public notice by the Ministry of Local Government.
On October 15, the Government signed an agreement with a UK-based private developer, OPEC Prime Properties, to turn the housing estates into a modern satellite town.
Vincent Ssekkono, the permanent secretary of the local government ministry, said all the 1,750 bonafide sitting tenants had been identified and memoranda of understanding had been processed.
Under the agreement, OPEC Prime Properties would provide modern public infrastructure including roads, water, sewerage system, electricity supply and other utilities, he said.
The developer would also construct 1,750 flats to resettle the sitting tenants, as well as bungalows, mansions, executive flats, commercial blocks and institutional facilities for schools and offices.
Ssekkono further explained that the tenants would have the first priority to own flats. He refused to comment on the issue of compensation.
But Simon Patrick Barigo, the NRM vice-chairperson of Nakawa I who acts as the spokesperson for the tenants, argued that the memorandum of understanding was not legally binding because it left out the developer. He said the agreement lacked detailed clauses to protect the tenants, claiming it was imposed on the tenants.
He noted that Nakawa Council 3 had never been involved in the development and that no plans had been submitted to Nakawa Division for scrutiny and valuation, as required by the Local Government Act.
The tenants were not opposed to the re-development project, he stressed, but they wanted it to be done the way President Museveni directed in December 2003.
The President had proposed that the re-development takes place in phases and starts in an open space which can accommodate five blocks to reduce unnecessary displacement of tenants. The President had also suggested consultations between the developer and tenants.
According to Barigo, the 27,000 residents have vowed not to leave their housing units until they have met government officials and the developer. They have also asked for the lifting of the eviction notice until the land amendments are finalised.
and Josephine Maseruka
THE Government has directed tenants of Naguru and Nakawa housing estates to vacate by the end of January to allow for the re-development of the area. The directive was communicated yesterday in a public notice by the Ministry of Local Government.
On October 15, the Government signed an agreement with a UK-based private developer, OPEC Prime Properties, to turn the housing estates into a modern satellite town.
Vincent Ssekkono, the permanent secretary of the local government ministry, said all the 1,750 bonafide sitting tenants had been identified and memoranda of understanding had been processed.
Under the agreement, OPEC Prime Properties would provide modern public infrastructure including roads, water, sewerage system, electricity supply and other utilities, he said.
The developer would also construct 1,750 flats to resettle the sitting tenants, as well as bungalows, mansions, executive flats, commercial blocks and institutional facilities for schools and offices.
Ssekkono further explained that the tenants would have the first priority to own flats. He refused to comment on the issue of compensation.
But Simon Patrick Barigo, the NRM vice-chairperson of Nakawa I who acts as the spokesperson for the tenants, argued that the memorandum of understanding was not legally binding because it left out the developer. He said the agreement lacked detailed clauses to protect the tenants, claiming it was imposed on the tenants.
He noted that Nakawa Council 3 had never been involved in the development and that no plans had been submitted to Nakawa Division for scrutiny and valuation, as required by the Local Government Act.
The tenants were not opposed to the re-development project, he stressed, but they wanted it to be done the way President Museveni directed in December 2003.
The President had proposed that the re-development takes place in phases and starts in an open space which can accommodate five blocks to reduce unnecessary displacement of tenants. The President had also suggested consultations between the developer and tenants.
According to Barigo, the 27,000 residents have vowed not to leave their housing units until they have met government officials and the developer. They have also asked for the lifting of the eviction notice until the land amendments are finalised.