RDC blocks Kabaka’s Munyonyo project

Kampala

The planned redevelopment of Buganda Kingdom’s landing site at Munyonyo has been halted by Makindye Division Assistant Resident District Commissioner David Mulowooza.

The kingdom plans to transform the site into a modern facility with canoes and modern water games.

But Mr Mulowooza said despite the Kabaka’s ownership of the land, the kingdom should provide an alternative place to relocate a market that sits near the site before any redevelopment is carried out.

“The Kabaka should provide an alternative area for the market vendors or he compensates them. The traders have also gone to court over same issue,” Mr Mulowooza said on Saturday.

Move condemned
Last year, Buganda Kingdom partnered with Nalubaale Marine Company Ltd, a local trading firm, to upgrade the landing site.

Buganda Land Board Spokesperson Joseph Katumba condemned the RDC’s intervention and warned him against politicising the scheme.

He said the alleged market is settled on a different block and will not be interrupted by the project.

“The RDC should realise that the entire place belongs to the Kabaka and he decides how to manage it. The alleged market leadership should instead cooperate with us other than challenging the project,” Mr Katumba said.

In 2002, officials at Mengo, the kingdom’s seat, temporarily allocated part of the estimated 12-acre land to vendors following their eviction from Ggaba Market.

Last week, the police deployed heavily at the site failing the planned commencement of construction work.

Nalubaale’s director James Bemba said the project would cost Shs2 billion.