BY BARBARA NANSIMBI
Kampala Capital City Authority [KCCA] Executive Director Hajati Sharifah Buzeki has clarified that ongoing developments at Nakivubo Channel should not worry anyone because the plan already existed in the KCCA Master Plan.
“I won’t call it Ham Kigguddu’s plan but a government plan. Well, government may not have injected money in it, but Kampala has a Drainage Master plan. It has a clause that talks about redevelopment of Nakivubo channel” she said while appearing on BBS Terefayina’s Vvaawo Mpitewo program hosted by celebrated TV talk-show host Steven Dunstan Busuulwa.
Hajati Buzeki explained that the current redevelopments arose from a letter and proposal KCCA received from President Museveni seeking to transform Nakivubo channel by city tycoon, Hamis Kiggundu.
“Our work as technical people is [was] to study it, look at our master plan and see whether it [investor plan] aligns well with existing Kampala master plan regarding drainage channels. As KCCA, we studied that plan and we have an input to make to the developer in liaison with other relevance agencies” she explained.
The ED said that consultations with the ministry for water and environment together with NEMA were made. She said these consultations were meant to ensure that there are no environmental concerns that may arise after the investor does his developments.
“We told them, you’re the experts on urban water, you even have a full department on this. If this person goes ahead with this plan, will the City be safe? How will the plan work without affecting the environment? They gave us their advice and we’re also finalizing our input to the developer to guide his plan” she said.
Buzeki’s assertions come at a time when some voices led by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago have been making rounds castigating the developments at Nakivubo channel.
Meanwhile, hajati Buzeki also had no kind words for people who are misusing the garbage bins KCCA put on the streets for use by mobile people. She said whereas these bins are small and only meant to help mobile individuals with little garbage, some people have started dumping large amounts of garbage around those bins.
She cited an incident at Entebbe road where an unidentified individual ferried sacks of garbage and dumped them around the litterbins.
“We’re facing a big challenge on use of these litterbins. They are not for storing large quantities of garbage but for mobile situations. Someone who eats a mango can dump his or her garbage there; those who fail to find where to dump a water bottle or chapatti pack. That’s why we put them with some even bringing sacks of garbage and dump it in areas where we placed them” she said.
She promised to continue with mass sensitization on garbage disposal so as to make Kampala clean and livable through the Weyonje program.
Buzeki also rallied Kampalans to turn up in huge numbers of the upcoming Kampala festival. She said the festival is an opportunity to promote our cultural diversity, tourism and unity among Kampalans.
