Leaders protest plan to replace sports centre with shopping mall

Soroti Municipality councillors and the sports fraternity in the area have protested the alleged sale of the cricket and tennis grounds to a property developer for establishment of a shopping mall and hotel complex.

The seven-acre recreation centre, located on Jumbhabia Road, opposite Pioneer Primary School, is said to have been sold to Komolo Properties Limited by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development without due knowledge of the municipal council.

The office of the town clerk, in a June 27, 2018 letter to the ministry of Lands, requested to change the recreation centre to a commercial one but without consulting councillors.

In response, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Lands, Mr Vincent B. Byendaimira, in a July 19, 2018 letter, told the town clerk that a technical team would come to assess the implications of his request.

However, in a heated council meeting held on January 31, the councillors rendered the plan null and void, saying the mandate to determine the fate of the recreational centre lies with the council and not the town clerk’s office.

Mr Isaac Elakuna, the municipal speaker, said the council neither knows nor has a hand in the planned redevelopment of the recreation facility.
“The process in which the user clause was altered was unscrupulously done; it is the council, being the custodian of all public and recreation lands in town, that has rights as to when and why that should be done,” he explained.

Mr George William Okoit, the youth councillor, said they will institute a committee to investigate what he described as mafia behind the sale of the playgrounds.
“There is no way we can allow this public facility to be run down; already the resting houses have been demolished,” he said.

Controversy
Mr Raymond Ekadu, a user of the recreation centre, said it is owned by Soroti Sports Club group of trustees, acquired in 1970.
“We feel betrayed by the municipal leadership; this is a matter that lies in the mandate of council, how do individuals sell a recreational centre?” he said. Mr Moses Otimong, the town clerk, who was appointed to the position in May last year, said he found in place the process to redevelop the recreation centre.

He added that he is consulting stakeholders to give comprehensive details on the sale of the land to Komolo Properties Limited.

Mr Byendaimira, in a December 21, 2018 letter, said the National Physical Planning Board, in its December 14, 2018 meeting approved the redevelopment of the recreation centre. He added that provision of alternative sports facilities will be provided by the municipal council before commencement of development on plots 14 to 24 on School Road.

Mr Stanilas Isaigi, the director of Komolo Properties Limited, admitted buying the land but never disclosed who sold it to him.
“I don’t have the power to change the user clause, which is the mandate of the planning authority and its professionals, I am not a professional in that matter,” the businessman said.

Mr Isaigi added that the consultation to have the user clause changed started way back in 2008.
“All I can tell you is I bought that land; money changed hands, it’s not an allegation, I want to create jobs for your grandchildren,” he explained.