MPs clash with Tororo boses over Malaba port
Feb 24, 2009
THE parliamentary committee on finance, planning and economic development on Wednesday clashed with Tororo district leaders over the proposed multi-billion dry port at the Malaba border.
By Moses Nampala
THE parliamentary committee on finance, planning and economic development on Wednesday clashed with Tororo district leaders over the proposed multi-billion dry port at the Malaba border.
The committee said constructing a port on a 300sq mile piece of land was not viable.
A dry port is an inland terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport.
The district leaders, who were sensitising the community on the relevance of savings and credit schemes, were stunned by the members of the committee when they asked to address the residents.
The chairperson, Tindamanyire Kabondo, told the audience that the committee wanted to asses the viability of the proposed port.
“The suitable site for the project would be Namanve,†said Tindamanyire.
The remarks prompted angry responses from the district leaders, including the resident district commissioner, Mpimbaza Hashaka and the LC5 chairperson, Emmanuel Osuna.
Hashaka said decampaigning the project was not only unfortunate, but had come too late.
“It does not make sense for the committee to begin decampaigning a project already approved by the Government,†said Hashaka.
The LC5 chairperson, Emmanuel Osuna, said: “The President approved the project in the spirit of regional balance.â€
He added that Kampala was too congested to accommodate a facility of that nature.
“We know that some tycoons, who have secured land at Namanve, are fighting tooth and nail to divert this project,†Osuna said.
Tororo municipality MP Sanjay Tanna described the actions of his colleagues as unfortunate.
“But we will handle this matter with MPs from Tororo’s neighbouring districts that are bound to benefit from the project,†Sanjay added.
The proposed project entails the construction of a modern parking yard for cargo trucks, schools and a hospital.
THE parliamentary committee on finance, planning and economic development on Wednesday clashed with Tororo district leaders over the proposed multi-billion dry port at the Malaba border.
The committee said constructing a port on a 300sq mile piece of land was not viable.
A dry port is an inland terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport.
The district leaders, who were sensitising the community on the relevance of savings and credit schemes, were stunned by the members of the committee when they asked to address the residents.
The chairperson, Tindamanyire Kabondo, told the audience that the committee wanted to asses the viability of the proposed port.
“The suitable site for the project would be Namanve,†said Tindamanyire.
The remarks prompted angry responses from the district leaders, including the resident district commissioner, Mpimbaza Hashaka and the LC5 chairperson, Emmanuel Osuna.
Hashaka said decampaigning the project was not only unfortunate, but had come too late.
“It does not make sense for the committee to begin decampaigning a project already approved by the Government,†said Hashaka.
The LC5 chairperson, Emmanuel Osuna, said: “The President approved the project in the spirit of regional balance.â€
He added that Kampala was too congested to accommodate a facility of that nature.
“We know that some tycoons, who have secured land at Namanve, are fighting tooth and nail to divert this project,†Osuna said.
Tororo municipality MP Sanjay Tanna described the actions of his colleagues as unfortunate.
“But we will handle this matter with MPs from Tororo’s neighbouring districts that are bound to benefit from the project,†Sanjay added.
The proposed project entails the construction of a modern parking yard for cargo trucks, schools and a hospital.