The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anitah Annet Among, has asked the Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) to initiate the process compensate businessman John Bosco Muwonge, $9.6m (Sh36.189b) for his land.
The 10-acre piece of land in Kisenyi-Kampala, was taken over by government to settle the street vendors and hawkers.
“As Government, we pay what the Government Valuer gives us, not what the client wants. And since the valuation was at $9.6m and I think that would be prudent enough for you to budget for us to see how to sort out the issue of the vendors and hawkers. As Parliament, we will give what is requested, we don’t initiate any money to be given out, we wait for KCCA to initiate a requisition that we need this amount of money and we will give within what we have,” said Among.
In July this year, the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) recommended halting any transactions on this land.
COSASE’s recommendation was based on the fact that the price quoted was allegedly exorbitant and that another family claimed ownership over the same piece of land.
In the same regard, the Speaker has asked Muwonge not to evict the vendors since government has showed commitment to compensate him for his land noting.
“I also want to request Muwonge, since we are in negotiation with Government and Government has showed commitment on paying that land, kindly don’t evict the hawkers and vendors because I saw you had given them an ultimatum of 14 days, but I want to give you a commitment that Government is willing and ready to take charge and make sure that it acquires and it is given to the hawkers to earn their living in that area,” asserted Among.
