Mayor Ssebaana-Kizito. Wrong again ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mayor Ssebaana-Kizito still swears that one day he will still grab the green space that is Constitutional Square.
Besides the many other factors put forward by Ugandans, against 'developing' the Constitutional Square, the engineer's report was very clear on preserving this green space. Mayor Ssebaana-Kizito has refused to listen. What is wrong with him?
The Mayor also says that houses built on wetland areas have to be compensated before demolition. That is well and good.
But from which budget? Compensation is proper if these houses have been paying some PROPERTY TAX ; a tax that could now be used as an insurance to fall back on. Otherwise, is Mayor Ssebaana-Kizito proposing that the poor in Bugerere, Kaberamaido, Kalisizo etc... pay for this?
There was a time our dreams in Mzee Ssebaana-Kizito were without bound. It is sad that instead we only have let-down and disappointment.
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KCC refunds Basajja 250m/- NewVision Friday, 4th July, 2003
By Catherine Ntabadde
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) has refunded sh250m which was paid by City tycoon
Hassan Basajjabalaba to re-develop the Constitutional Square (formerly City
Square). The project was to be implemented in 2002 by Basajjabalaba’s company
Yudaya International.
Kampala mayor, John Ssebaana Kizito yesterday told The New Vision that
Basajjabalaba had paid sh250m in advance, shortly after winning the contract in
2001 to re-develop the Square and was supposed to inject $8m (over sh16b) into
the project. “He paid us by cheque but we have refunded the money. All the money
was refunded early this year. There is no way we would keep the money yet the
project did not take off.”
The Square was to be re-developed into a modern shopping area with a shopping
arcade, airline offices and travel bureaus. However the project was opposed by
former Local government minister, Jaberi Bidandi Ssali and MPs.
A committee set up in 2002 to inquire about the project also rejected the project.
Ssebaana said in an interview with The New Vision that that KCC welcomes ideas on
how the Square should be re-developed and that Basajjabalaba’s project would not
go ahead since it had been rejected.
Ssebaana noted that until KCC got another developer, “the project is still in cold
storage.” “We are not giving up on the project but because we do not have any
other developer, the project is in cold storage at the moment. We are planning to
get another developer,” he said.
He said KCC would continue maintaining the Square and that it must be
re-developed “to suit the standards of the city.”
Ssebaana said KCC will ensure that the green area is maintained even when
re-development takes place.
Basajjabalaba had planned to leave open recreation grounds with flowers and trees
on top of the building. The complex would also comprise underground parking.
Published on: Friday, 4th July, 2003
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Mitayo Potosi
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