On Thursday, the Parliamentary committee tasked to investigate the land row at Centenary Park, directed that the construction of sewer lines by the National Water and Sewage cooperation should begin. The directive will see all the structures built along the site where the sewer lines would pass demolished. “...we give Nalongo Estates 24 hours to remove their things if they don’t, National Water as obliged by the law proceeds tomorrow, to do its work demolish and continue to proceed.” Said, Elijah Okupa, Kasilo County MP. “I need more than 24 hours whatever it may be because there are tenants there.” But that was not to be. Soldiers from the elite Special Forces Command were this morning deployed at the park. Businesses were also going on as usual around the park. “I think that is Police, yes I have just seen Police and some army people here also. But that’s the government’s role, it’s not my role to secure, to ensure that there’s peace, to ensure that there is no fighting. I think it’s the government’s role.” Said, Amooti Nyakana, Director Nalongo Estates.

Former Kampala Division mayor, Amooti Nyakana who is now a consultant of Nalongo Estates, the company that has been managing the park accused the Committee on Commissions and Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises of being biased and overstepping its mandate. “And I don’t think that an FDC leader, NRM leader, DP leader, CP leader, and independent in a small Committee can become a Court. They could maybe recommend to Parliament yes, but mainly a directive.” Said, the Director Nalongo Estates. He also accused Kampala City Authority and its Executive Director of being unprofessional and taking issues personal. “The interference of Jenifer Musisi, not the institution of KCCA but Jenifer Musisi the person is what is bringing problems. When she is just a worker and should follow lawful council decisions.” Said, the Director Nalongo Estates. “Nothing has been done off, nothing has been done out of the law especially as KCCA. We are only protecting public property which we’ve done with all the other properties...” Said, Pater Kaujju, Spokesperson KCCA.

Officials from the National Water and Sewage Cooperation who were supposed to start laying pipes in the area revealed that they had already been given the green light to carry out their work. KCCA on the other hand said that all structures in the sewer line would be demolished. “This total project has about 31km that we are working on, we are working on a number of other areas. So the 700m around Centenary Park where we had got blockages, where we had been stopped from working, we are very happy that now we have been given permission to work there. The contractor who had been working on that segment of the project had demobilized and left because he had been blocked. Now he is mobilizing to come and work, we are just waiting for final communications from the multi-agency meeting that is taking place.” Said, Samuel Apedel, Spokesperson NWSC. “As soon as they are ready with the equipment, we expect the structures down to allow the work to go on.” Said, the Spokesperson KCCA. The Committee on Commission Statuary Authorities and State Enterprises expected to meet again on the 8th of this month to discuss the matter further.