Ephraim Kasozi and Juliet Kigongo
11 August 2009
Local Government Minister Adolf Mwesige has asked Kampala Central Division Chairman Godfrey Nyakaana to explain the alleged illegal construction of a parish hall on a disputed plot.
The plot is situated at Buwanika Zone, Kisenyi Parish in Kampala Central Division behind Namirembe Road. "Reference is made to a complaint letter addressed to me by the chairperson of Buwanika Zone who is the complainant in the matter of a disputed plot on which a parish hall has been built. The purpose of this letter is to demand for an explanation concerning the issue," reads Mr Mwesige's letter to the LC3 chairman.
The minister's demand for an explanation was prompted by a complaint lodged by Prince Swaleh Tibamwenda, accusing Mr Nyakaana of using his office to grab the land and erecting a hall on a privately-owned plot.
According to Prince Tibamwenda, the Parish Council plot on which the council had resolved to construct a community centre for Kisenyi I was illegally grabbed by another LC official.
"The Constitution protects the individual from any harrassment by the state without any viable legal grounds.
In this particular regard, through the LC3 Chairman- Kampala Central Division, the state is seen to be harassing me by having part of my plot grabbed in the way it is being done so far," reads part of Prince Tibamwenda's complaint to the minister. He contends the offences have been committed against his property and his privacy violated by the continued usage of the said semi-finished parish hall.
However, Mr Nyakaana dismissed the allegations, saying the construction was purely a decision of the division council to build a parish hall. "I wouldn't comment because my accusers are also leaders with conflict of interest in the said land but at the expense of the community people," Mr Nyakaana told Daily Monitor in a telephone interview. He added that the division together with the community jointly contributed towards the construction of the hall valued at Shs25 million.
Prince Tibamwenda said Mr Nyakaana acted without consulting the law which is the guiding principle on how he should proceed with his work. "Local councils are guided by town clerks if they are intending to implement any project. This is abuse of local council leadership," he added.
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