Nema disowns Entebbe landing site developer

Entebbe- The National Environment Authority (Nema) has disowned a private developer who claims to have secured clearance to redevelop Kigungu Landing Site in Entebbe Municipality.

Last month, Mr Gerald Mutebi, an Entebbe-based businessman, claimed ownership of Kigungu Landing Site where he plans to set up an ice block and fish processing plant. Construction works have already started despite resistance from fishermen and a section of leaders in Entebbe Municipal Council.
The contested piece of land measures about an acre.

According to Mr Tonny Achidria, the senior public relations officer at Nema, they have not approved any new development projects at Kigungu Landing Site.

“As Nema, we are not aware of any project taking place at Kigungu Landing Site because we have not issued any licence to anyone to develop that site. If the developer claims to have approval from Nema, let him produce the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate,” Mr Achridia said in a telephone interview at the weekend.

Procedurally, any developer who wants to put up a project in fragile areas such as wetlands and lake shores, has to hire a consultant to do an EIA before embarking on the project.

An EIA is a critical examination of the effects of a project on the environment.
Mr Achridia added: “Local authorities have all the powers to protect natural resources from encroachment. As Nema, we don’t issue land titles in buffer zones because Kigungu is a gazzetted landing site, and if the developer has a title ,the leaders in Entebbe Municipal Council are solely responsible.”

Earlier, Mr Mutebi had told Daily Monitor that he fulfilled all the necessary requirements and sought approval from Entebbe municipal authorities to go ahead with the project.

“I have no time to talk about those issues; let council hold a press conference and brief the media. If you are not convinced with that, get an excavator and demolish it,” he said.

But the municipal deputy mayor, Mr Richard Ssekyondo, insists Mr Mutebi defied the order to halt construction works.
Entebbe Division B Speaker Daisy Grace Aloyo said: “He should show us his approved building plan first. These issues of saying he has a land title won’t work because these days people move with fake land titles. If the municipal council does not take any action, I will use my powers as speaker to stop that project.”

Recently, the municipality physical planner, Ms Grace Nanyonga, said she had not received any application seeking for redevelopment of Kigungu Landing Site.

“Whoever wishes to set up an ice block plant there will have to go through our office at the municipal council to verify whether such a development strategy conforms to our physical development plan,” she said.

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