The Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura is currently appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Authorities and States Enterprises (COSASE) Committee to answer quarries surrounding the security of Centenary Park.
The issue to summon the Police boss was reached at yesterday after the Committer learnt that Godfrey Nyakana, wife to Sarah Kizito, the proprietor of Nalongo Estates Ltd, has been organizing goons to obstruct Government officials from accessing the premises.
Kizito is battling with KCCA over the ownership of the property in question.
Parliament has this morning shockingly learnt that some of the building of Nalongo Estates are sitting on water pipes yet water Act says buildings should be situated 4m away from water pipes. Those pipes have been sitting there since 1956. So MPs want the four structures demolished.
Kayihura’s police has been ordered to offer security during the eviction and demolition.
Meanwhile, the Committee has directed Sarah Kizito to allow National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) contractor to proceed with laying pipes of sewerage works.
This was after it was revealed that the contractor on site fined the NWSC Shs979.9m after failing to access the premises because Nalongo Estates Ltd claimed ownership of Centenary Park.
Abdu Katuntu, the COSASE Chairman made the pronouncement yesterday during investigations into the Centenary Park saga.
“As we leave now, the Contractor of NWSC should be granted unfettered access to the land he needs to do the NWSC project. If we get to know that actually you have organized any obstruction, then we shall be involving other powers that we have as Parliament,” Katuntu said.
Defending herself, Kizito accused Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) boss, Jenifer Musisi of witch-hunt, revealing that she defied President Museveni’s orders to have her lease renewed.
However, Katuntu informed Kizito that Museveni has no powers to give out any land in Uganda.
Godfrey Nyakana, who introduced himself as Personal Assistant to his wife, asked Parliament to compel KCCA to renew its lease so as it handles compensation of UNRA and NWSC in person.
Background
Investigations are to fulfill a request by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Irene Mulyagonja, asking Parliament to investigate the matter.
The Committee is expected to report back to Parliament in 10 days.
According to Mulyagonja, the controversy surrounding Centenary Park has resulted into three public projects stalling, but her office doesn’t have the mandate to investigate the matter owing to the fact that Nalongo Estates Limited is a private company.
The company is embroiled in a battle with KCCA over failure by the latter to renew lease for the former to manage Centenary Park.
KCCA claims that the lease and management executed with the company in question expired in May 2016, and the company owners should have vacated the premises by December 31st 2016.
However, Sarah Kizito has continued with business as usual regardless of the Court orders demanding that she hands over the property to KCCA.
On May16 2006, the then KCC and Nalongo Estates Limited executed a management agreement to keep the park as a green open/public space, but the latter allegedly breached the contract by constructing temporary structures.
Consequently, KCCA terminated the contract on June26, 2012, but Nalongo Estates dragged the Authority to Arbitration Tribunal in September 2013. It won the case and was awarded Shs732.5m in damages.
Note: We’ll keep you posted on new developments.
