Kisoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kisoro municipality and district leaders are feuding over development of the Saza playground by a businessman.
Last month, Hamza Kent Rwendegye, a businessman in Kisoro town started fencing part of Saza ground to start constructing business structures.
However, Rwendegye met resistance from Municipality authorities who ordered him to stop construction works immediately with an argument that the land belongs to the government and Municipal authorities are the custodians.
In a directive letter, dated January 29, 2024, Alikwan Ayubu Kisubi, Kisoro Municipality town clerk states that Rwendegye is illegally constructing in the government land because he has no approval from Municipal authorities. In a letter, Kisubi orders, Rwendegye to demolish any development he had set up and prepare the land to its original state.
Joachim Hashakimana , Deputy Speaker for Kisoro Municipality says he is very happy with the directive of the Town clerk’s decision ordering for the immediate stop of development. Hashakimana accuses District leaders of fraudulently conniving with Rwendegye to develop the land without involving municipal council.
But, Hajji Badru Majwala, Kisoro Chief Administrative Officer insists that the process of providing land to the developer was done after full consultations with the District Council.
Abel Bizimana, Kisoro district LCV Chairman told our reporter on Friday that the decision to halt the developments at the playground is politically motivated. Bizimana accuses Municipal authorities of rushing to decide and halt development at the land without first consulting district authorities.
Bizimana also explains the district plans to convert Saza playground into a sports complex to host football pitch, Netball and a running track.
James Agaba , District councilor representing Southern Division says that the district council granted Rwendegye permission to develop only 5 meters of the land to help people around Saza playground access their homes. He argues Kisoro Municipal council authorities are just ignorantly halting the development without clear information that permission was granted to the developer.
Rwendegye says that he hasn’t reached at the stage of developing the playground , but he is still fencing part of it in order to get an access road connecting to his ancestral home.
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