MBARARA GATSBY PARK TENANTS, UIA LOCK HORNS OVER LAND

Uganda Investments Authority last year in a function witnessed by minister of state for privatisation Evelyn Anite , the  then Minister of State for Finance David Bahati , Victoria Busigye Rusoke the Minister of State for Local Government and the Director General Uganda Investments Authority Robert Mukiza handed over the land title to GATSBY leadership.

  Victor Kansiime the chairman Ankole small scale industrial manufacturers Association  says 8 manufacturing companies  who include  Millionstars Health Products limited ,Whitesky 256-SMC Limited,Bold Energy Limited, Premium Paints and Chemical Products limited ,Esperanza Distributors limited,Active Living Uganda Limited, Bontao Uganda Limited and Agribusiness and Real estate investments  rushed to Mbarara  High Court today (Monday) Seeking restraining orders stopping  uganda investments Authority  from subleasing the land to Mbarara GATSBY small scale enterprises Association.

Kansiime adds that Uganda Investments Authority awarded contracts to tenants in the industrial park after every tenant tendered  in their business plans but however they are now surprised on how UIA has now turned against it’s tenants by  giving  authority to Mbarara GATSBY small scale enterprises limited to look after the land.

Through their lawyer Byamugisha Gabriel and company Advocates they have today  filed a case  at Mbarara High Court seeking restraining orders barring Mbarara GATSBY small small scale enterprises Association  from evicting them from the park.

When contacted the general Secretary Mbarara GATSBY Small scale enterprise association Malingu Lwanga  says GATSBY Kampala and Mbarara GATSBY Small scale enterprise association bought the land at a tune of 77 million UGX in 2005 and since this wasn’t enough for developing the park GATSBY was forced to acquire a loan facility of ugx 2.16bn from East Africa  development Bank though it could not pay this loan in time.

He adds that in return Uganda Investments Authority later cleared the loan in return for ownership of industrial park which was there fore the cost of land (ugx 77 million) that Mbarara GATSBY Trust paid.

The High Court which was presided over by the high court deputy Registrar Samuel Twakire has however set 6th.may.2022 when the case will reappear for hearing before Lady Justice Joyce  Kavuma.