Ugandan college sues Somali businessman

[Voltage]

Jinja nursing school, Somali in land row

By Esther Mukyala

THE International Institute of Health Sciences in Jinja has accused a Somali investor of encroaching on their land.

The institute, which sits on 0.995 hectares of land, is located on Kyabazinga Way, about 6km from Jinja town.

The institute, with about 400 students, offers certificate and diploma courses in nursing.

Stephen Bewayo Nsubuga, one of the shareholders, said the institute was authorised to teach health sciences in 1999.

However, last year, a Somali investor bought part of the land on Namasagali Drive, opposite the institute’s main gate, and had power lines changed, a move that affected access to the institute’s gate.

It is alleged that the Somali investor intends to construct a petrol station in front of the school.

“Jinja Municipal Council approved the plan for the institute. But to our dismay, a Somali investor bought a plot and attempted to block the access road, telling us to transfer the main entrance elsewhere,” Bewayo said on Tuesday.
He added that Jinja could do without an another petrol station, but not the institute.

The institute’s executive director, Prof. Wilton Kezaala, said they discovered the encroachment late last year and addressed the matter to the municipal town clerk, who cleared the school of any wrong doing.

However, when contacted, Jofram Waidhuba, Jinja’s senior deputy town clerk, accused the surveyor employed by the Somali investor of making alterations.

“The initial ground plans released by then town clerk David Naluwayiro for that plot were altered to indicate an extension that encroached on Namasagali Drive,” Waidhuba said.

Waidhuba said the Somali should meet the transfer costs of the power lines which he had earlier moved.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/17/742907