Kampala — THE Jinja municipality mayor, Hajji Muhammed Baswale Kezaala, has lashed out at 'saboteurs of development' in the district.

He said efforts to develop the area were being frustrated by individuals who he claimed drive away investors because of selfish interests.

"No one is failing Jinja's development but ourselves. There are people who call themselves consultants on Jinja politics yet they are saboteurs of development. We have lost opportunities for big investments because of these people," he told journalists on Monday.

Kezaala cited an incident in which a proposal to allocate land to the Islamic University in Uganda to establish its branch in the town was being frustrated.

"We had identified 22 acres of land for this project but now some people are inciting those on the land to demand an exorbitant compensation of sh13b.

Similarly, we lost an opportunity for a modern $10m hospital donation from the Chinese. The project was relocated to Kampala and now government is constructing a sh400 hospital in Kagoma. Residents are jubilating but how do you compensate $10m with sh400m?" he asked.

"The oil terminal was meant to be built here in Jinja but because of disunity and squabbling amongst the leaders, the project failed.

"Why can't we borrow a leaf from our brothers and sisters in western Uganda? For them when it comes to development, they put their political differences aside and unite for a common cause."