IGG blocks Ssebaana’s KPC road

By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has ordered the Kampala City Council (KCC) not to dig an access road through Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) land on Bombo Road.

In letter dated December 9 to mayor John Ssebaana Kizito, the IGG said all plans concerning the road should be halted. However, KCC has defied the directive and said it would re-open all access roads in the city “to ease traffic jams.”

The IGG wrote, “This office is in receipt of a complaint from the business manager of KPC alleging that officers from Kampala City Council have created an illegal access road through Plot 89, Kampala Road, belonging to KPC adjacent to Plot 1, Bombo Road (which is Sure House Building) which belongs to you. It is alleged that the said road was created without the authorisation or consent of KPC.”

The ombudsman, Jotham Tumwesigye, said, “This office intends to make further inquires into the allegations to establish the truth of the matter. In order to effectively do so, it is important that the status quo be preserved.”

Tumwesigye said, “This is therefore to direct that any decision making or action in regard to the above matter is stayed pending investigations by this office. By copy of this letter, the matter is hereby drawn to the Town Clerk, KCC.”

KCC in a special meeting on Thursday night, however, went ahead and resolved to open all access roads immediately.

The personal assistant to the mayor, Matthias Nsubuga, yesterday said, “Council passed a resolution that all the access roads be re-opened. Even that one in question will be opened. It is not the only one, there are about 15 other lanes that will be reopened in an effort to reduce the traffic jam on the streets,” he said.

KCC Deacons Board member Robbie Muhumuza said the church was not consulted before the decision was taken. KPC has documents, which indicate that there is no access road on Plot 89.

“We bought that plot recently and found that Sure House had encroached on our land. When we raised a complaint, the mayor turned around and said there was a supposed to be an access road. Why did he wait until we raised the issue of encroachment,” he asked.
The IGG in the letter said that, “According to KPC, KCC plans and title deed of the above property do not indicate that there is an access road from Plot 1, Sure House Building, through Plot 89, Kampala Road or otherwise. Despite this fact, however, it is alleged that you have been accessing Sure House Building through KPC and that there are intentions to formalise this illegal act with a view of creating a permanent access road through KPC land in the guise of the need to decongest the traffic on Bombo Road and Buganda Road.”

The IGG said, “Further allegations are to the effect that part of the said KPC land has already been encroached upon by yourself by reason of the erection of an iron sheet fence around Sure House Building, and that by so doing KPC has been denied access to part of their land." Ssebaana earlier said KPC was operating illegally but KPC documents indicate the church is registered.
Ends