Prime
Leaders demand answers on idle land
Mubende District leaders are demanding for an explanation from government as to why a Turkish investor, who was offered free army land in the area to set up agro-processing plants, has not commenced work, one year later.
What you need to know:
- During an interview on Sunday, Mr Magezi said if the financier is not interested in the land, they can use it for other projects to generate revenue for the district as well as creating jobs for youth.
- Mr Hakim Serubiri, one of the residents at Kikona- Kyabatagi Village, said he had hoped to get ready market for his maize, but his dream was not realised since the investor failed to set up the factory.
Mubende District leaders are demanding for an explanation from government as to why a Turkish investor, who was offered free army land in the area to set up agro-processing plants, has not commenced work, one year later.
In April last year, government gave away 50 acres of land belonging to Mubende Army Rehabilitation Centre. The land is at Kikona-Kyabatagi in West Division, Mubende municipality.
The investor was expected to construct two coffee and maize flour processing plants, targeting the international market.
The land give-away was in response to a presidential directive issued in 2016 to Mubende District local government and the administration of Army Mubende Rehabilitation Centre instructing them to grant a lease hold title to Tunasco Insaat Company for industrial purposes.
According to Mr Shiefu Magezi Nsereko, the Mubende District vice chairperson, ever since the land was given away, they have not received any communication from either the investor or government, explaining what went wrong with the project.
Alternatives
During an interview on Sunday, Mr Magezi said if the financier is not interested in the land, they can use it for other projects to generate revenue for the district as well as creating jobs for youth.
Mr Hakim Serubiri, one of the residents at Kikona- Kyabatagi Village, said he had hoped to get ready market for his maize, but his dream was not realised since the investor failed to set up the factory.
Efforts to speak to Mr Sherrif Ahmed Abduwalli, one of the directors of Tunasco Insaat Company Ltd, were futile as his telephone was not available.
However, State minister for Kampala, Ms Benny Namugwanya, who took the investor to the site, explained that there was a delay by government to hand over the land title to the investor.
“…and by the time government handed over the title to the investor, some of the money he had set aside for this project had been utilised for other investments ,” Ms Namugwanya, who is also the Mubende District Woman MP, said.
“But two weeks ago, I received a communication from that Turkish investor informing me that he had secured funds for the project and will soon commence construction,” she said.
The State minister for Investment, Ms Evelyn Anite, said if the investor fails, government will give it to other potential investors .
Ms Anite said if the Turkish investor had set up the factories as agreed, they would have created jobs to hundreds of residents in the area and reduced the situation where many resourceful youth are leaving their home districts for greener pastures in Arab countries.
BACKGROUND
Mubende District is known for massive maize and coffee growing, but local farmers have over the years been selling their produce to middle men at low prices. The factory will give hope to many.
