KCC protests tree-cutting
Feb 21, 2009
KAMPALA City Council has protested the indiscriminate cutting of trees at the premises of the Chief Justice on Nakasero Hill Road in Kampala.
By Gerald Tenywa
KAMPALA City Council has protested the indiscriminate cutting of trees at the premises of the Chief Justice on Nakasero Hill Road in Kampala.
Simon Muhumuza, the public relations officer, said KCC responded on Friday to complaints from residents that the trees that had long sheltered the area from erosive winds were being felled. “We inspected the premises and discovered the trees were being cut down without permission from KCC,†he said. “The contractor said he was cutting down the trees to pave way for construction of a wall.â€
Muhumuza said their intervention has been frustrated because tree cutting was still going on by Wednesday. “The estimated value of the trees destroyed so far is about sh14 million,†he said. “We briefly detained the contractor with an intention of prosecuting him in Court.â€
In a statement prepared by Frank Kakudidi, a representative of Adams Engineering Limited stated that the company was contracted by the Judiciary (High Court) to construct a wall and to uproot the trees along the boundary.
“We were stopped by City Council and I approached my client to sort out the problem,†said Kakudidi. “We came together with him to city hall, but I was detained.â€
Elias Kisawuzi, the spokesperson for the Justice Ministry said the premises of the Chief Justice were under renovation so that it can be occupied soon. However, he declined to comment about the saga between the Judiciary and KCC. “I do not know much about the saga,†he said.
KAMPALA City Council has protested the indiscriminate cutting of trees at the premises of the Chief Justice on Nakasero Hill Road in Kampala.
Simon Muhumuza, the public relations officer, said KCC responded on Friday to complaints from residents that the trees that had long sheltered the area from erosive winds were being felled. “We inspected the premises and discovered the trees were being cut down without permission from KCC,†he said. “The contractor said he was cutting down the trees to pave way for construction of a wall.â€
Muhumuza said their intervention has been frustrated because tree cutting was still going on by Wednesday. “The estimated value of the trees destroyed so far is about sh14 million,†he said. “We briefly detained the contractor with an intention of prosecuting him in Court.â€
In a statement prepared by Frank Kakudidi, a representative of Adams Engineering Limited stated that the company was contracted by the Judiciary (High Court) to construct a wall and to uproot the trees along the boundary.
“We were stopped by City Council and I approached my client to sort out the problem,†said Kakudidi. “We came together with him to city hall, but I was detained.â€
Elias Kisawuzi, the spokesperson for the Justice Ministry said the premises of the Chief Justice were under renovation so that it can be occupied soon. However, he declined to comment about the saga between the Judiciary and KCC. “I do not know much about the saga,†he said.