Golf club in arms with Nakumatt about land
Apr 07, 2009
GOLFERS in Kampala are up in arms with the developers of Nakumatt Oasis Hypermarket complex who they accuse of encroaching on the Kitante golf course.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe and Douglas Mazune
GOLFERS in Kampala are up in arms with the developers of Nakumatt Oasis Hypermarket complex who they accuse of encroaching on the Kitante golf course.
Members of Uganda Golf Club (UGC) protested last week after porters reportedly working on the instructions of Nakumatt proprietor Amina Hersi cut down seven 60-year-old trees.
The trees are part of Hole Number six which borders Hotel Africana and Nakumatt.
Nakumatt proprietors claim they got clearance from Kampala City Council (KCC) to cut down the trees to pave way for an access road to the new Super Market.
City lawyer Paul Karemera who is the club secretary said that Kiwanuka, Karugire and Company Advocated had already taken up the matter with KCC.
“The manner in which they conducted the whole thing was surprising and suspicious. They refused to stop saying they had been instructed to cut down the trees. These are trees which have been there for over 60 years. It’s gazetted as a green area. The trees are on the boundary, we should have been contacted,†Karemera stated.
The developer of the six acre piece of land on plots 88 to 94 on Yusuf Lule road is M/S Khadar Investments which belongs to a Somali businesswoman Amina Hersi. Government allocated her the land in 2006.
Efforts to talk to Amina were futile but sources said she secured clearance from KCC.
KCC spokesperson, Simon Muhumuza yesterday said he was not sure of the transaction.
Karemera said that they had asked surveyors to open boundaries to determine the extent of encroachment.
“The beauty of the area has been greatly compromised. We are making a headway,†Karemera said.
“They have encroached on our land and the next thing is that they are going to grade,†he added.
The Golf club has protested the move saying the part of the land given out for access road belongs to the club.
The vice Captain Emma Wamala said the club will protect the course against encroachers.
Nakumatt, Kenya’s leading retailer, plans to open shop later this month.
GOLFERS in Kampala are up in arms with the developers of Nakumatt Oasis Hypermarket complex who they accuse of encroaching on the Kitante golf course.
Members of Uganda Golf Club (UGC) protested last week after porters reportedly working on the instructions of Nakumatt proprietor Amina Hersi cut down seven 60-year-old trees.
The trees are part of Hole Number six which borders Hotel Africana and Nakumatt.
Nakumatt proprietors claim they got clearance from Kampala City Council (KCC) to cut down the trees to pave way for an access road to the new Super Market.
City lawyer Paul Karemera who is the club secretary said that Kiwanuka, Karugire and Company Advocated had already taken up the matter with KCC.
“The manner in which they conducted the whole thing was surprising and suspicious. They refused to stop saying they had been instructed to cut down the trees. These are trees which have been there for over 60 years. It’s gazetted as a green area. The trees are on the boundary, we should have been contacted,†Karemera stated.
The developer of the six acre piece of land on plots 88 to 94 on Yusuf Lule road is M/S Khadar Investments which belongs to a Somali businesswoman Amina Hersi. Government allocated her the land in 2006.
Efforts to talk to Amina were futile but sources said she secured clearance from KCC.
KCC spokesperson, Simon Muhumuza yesterday said he was not sure of the transaction.
Karemera said that they had asked surveyors to open boundaries to determine the extent of encroachment.
“The beauty of the area has been greatly compromised. We are making a headway,†Karemera said.
“They have encroached on our land and the next thing is that they are going to grade,†he added.
The Golf club has protested the move saying the part of the land given out for access road belongs to the club.
The vice Captain Emma Wamala said the club will protect the course against encroachers.
Nakumatt, Kenya’s leading retailer, plans to open shop later this month.