UIA gives deadline to Namanve undeveloped plots owners

Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has given six months to the owners of undeveloped land in Namanve Industrial Park to either act or loose the land.

According to the director for National Parks Hamuza Galiwango, they are currently about 180 undeveloped plots in the Park, 22 fully developed and 130 withdrawn from the original owners due to non-compliance.

"People have money to develop the area but they have not made it a prior. They say there are no infrastructure but we have done the biggest part of the works," he said.

Galiwanga informed the investors who had gathered at the UIA offices in Namanve that since 2016/17, a total of 10 plots were repossessed and reallocated to other investors.

Some of the investors whose leases were cancelled include MK publishers, Iran Uganda, Oscar Industries, Multiple Hauliers, and Associated Freight.

"These investors failed to live to their expectations. If you fail to develop your land, the Authority will have no choice but to withdraw it from you and give it to other investor. We have cancelled leases of 130 investors," he said.   

He said so far the Authority has completed the 2km road in the North estate, opened up 4km murram access to enable investors commence construction, extended 2.8km of 33kv power to various investors, extended 2km of water to various industries and maintained 30km murram  road.

In addition, the Authority has established a Police station in the area to boost security and processed routine requests for extension of leases, consent to mortgage, consents to transfer, build plans recommendations and many other services.

Some of the investors complained of lack of infrastructure in the area which they said was the biggest cause of non-performance.

Many of them said they have to incur millions of shillings trying to fill the land which eats on the money they planned to invest.

Dick Lufafa from Victoria Group of Companies complained that although the investors for years had been airing out their grievances, in many occasions, they are not attended to.

"Last year we met and we told you the same issues. Unfortunately we are meeting again and talking about the same issues. Have these meetings become routine just to call us and make us feel that you care? Can we get accountability of what we talked about last time?" Lufafa said.

The investors from  Kampala Industrial and Business Park, Luzira Industrial and Business Park and    Bweyogerere Industrial Estate were meeting officials  from UIA and  state minister of Investment  Evelyn Anite to discuss possible ways of addressing challenges faced and the  progress of the current industrial developments within the three industrial Parks.

Anite said since last year, the factories have increased from 7 last year to 22 creating about 12,000 jobs and most of the infrastructure issues have been addressed.

She said assured them of support and vowed to address all their complaints.