Kampala Affairs State Minister, Kabuye Kyofatogabye has defended property magnate Sudhir Ruparelia’s development on Naguru land that is contested by some sections of Kololo Senior Secondary School management.
The Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure which sat on Wednesday has launched fresh investigations into the Kololo S.S Land as people against Sudhir’s development want him to lose interest in the playground he wants to develop into a modern sports complex, to benefit his Kampala Parents School, Kololo Ss and the wider community of Naguru and Kampala city.
While appearing before the committee, Kabuye said that the developments were in the interest of the community because land in the area was being sold at a fast rate and space for play in the neighbourhood where he owns schools, was shrinking by the day.
Sudhir obtained relevant authorisation from the Lands ministry to secure the playground and upgrade it to a modern sports facility to retain it’s original purpose.
Those against the development claimed Kololo S.S had been denied access to the facility while Sudhir’s Kampala Parents was using it, but this is not true as it cannot be accessed because developments are currently on going.
The parliament committee has summoned the Attorney General to explain the alleged sale of Kololo S.S land to private investors.
Previously Sudhir told the Commission of Inquiry into land matters to enforce the law in regard to the questionable acquisition of a playground belonging to Kololo Secondary School by Kampala Parents School 2014, that he followed the legal procedures provided for acquisition of a lease with guidance from the Uganda Land commission (ULC) which is the body holding trust for the land in dispute.
“In 2013, we learnt about an ongoing move between Kololo SS and a company in Denmark entering a joint venture for commercial developments. I got concerned that we were going to lose a play field which we were using as a school and I contacted my lawyers to find out the exact owner of the land comprised of the playground and they advised that it belongs to ULC,” said Mr Sudhir, admitting that the lease title acquired by Kampala Parents is restricted to the Ministry of Education and Sports (Kololo SS).
Mr Sudhir defended ownership of the land on Plot 60 to 69, Lugogo Bypass in Nakawa Division saying he plans to establish a modern sports facility.
He holds that Kampala Parents School’s 2014 lease cannot be queried yet ULC holds a freehold title and reversionary powers over the land because they are restricted to only develop a sports facility.
By the time Sudhir came in to secure the playground, the entire school land had been parcelled, titled and allocated to 15 other developers including Chinese Hotel called Nainjing and housing estate Kensington Africa Limited among others.
“I applied through the normal procedure and it was within the powers of ULC to grant the lease and our intention is to establish a world class facility because of the requirements like power, water and sanitation as well as human resource,” he added, dismissing allegations that he is set to establish a commercial complex.
