By John V Sserwaniko
Monday afternoon, a powerful Chinese delegation drove to Bulange Mengo (seat of Buganda Kingdom) where Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga (CPM) was at hand to receive them. These were officials from Guoji Corporation, an investment entity the kingdom has been in partnership and doing business with for three years now. With them came the President of China Development Bank (CDB) which, according to Mayiga, is indicative of how seriously the Chinese value their relationship with Uganda’s most influential kingdom. Aware of Mayiga’s busy schedule and promptness when it comes to time, the Chinese delegation kept time and their speeches short. The Guoji officials, who are the investors behind the massive Mirembe Villas in Kigo, were here to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Buganda for another real estate project to be accomplished at Sentema. Renowned for hosting the headquarters of Busiro (one of Buganda’s core Counties/Masaza), Sentema is a minute drive from Kampala. It’s located in Wakiso district. On this Sentema location, the Buganda King (Kabaka Mutebi) owns over 900 acres of prime land but true to his heart of being courteous and considerate to his people, Mutebi has decreed that project implementation begins with about 80 acres that is totally free without any human settlement or activity. “People living around this area will benefit because the multiplier effect resulting from such a modern housing project won’t only appreciate the value of their land holdings but will also inspire them to develop themselves and live in more decent housing,” Kyewalabye Male, an influential kingdom official, subsequently explained to reporters after the MoU-signing ceremony. For Mayiga, the glamorous event was an opportunity to market Buganda kingdom’s suitability for even more business partnerships. “I take this opportunity to welcome our Chinese partners to Buganda Kingdom. We are located in the central part of Uganda and even the airport you have just seen is located in Buganda kingdom. This makes us the best entity to do business with because of the enormous potential to succeed,” Mayiga told the CDB boss Li Gang as he offered him a bottle of the kingdom’s Lwendo mineral water. In his usual cheerfulness, Mayiga assured the Chinese this was pure water with no alcoholic content in it. “In Buganda when a visitor comes, you give them water and they must drink something before leaving the house. Please always take this water whenever you are in Kampala because it’s the best water on the market.” He commended Guoji Corporation for being very serious investors who don’t only talk but are always eager to implement what has been put on paper. “When he came to inaugurate Mirembe Villas three years ago, our king directed us to work with you more because we realized you are different from other investors who I meet and they don’t follow through on their commitments. The expansion from Mirembe Villas now to Sentema proves that this is a growing partnership which I urge other investors to emulate and come to do business with us because of the enormous potential.” CPM assured the Chinese partners: “This couldn’t have come at a better time because in Kampala, there is a high demand for low cost housing and it’s something our king is very passionate about. He wants to see all his people living in decent houses and you are the best partner we can have to accomplish that. It’s our duty as leaders because it’s the best way to raise our people’s standard of living and positively impact on their quality of life.” Mayiga was flanked by kingdom Finance Minister Owek Waggwa Nsibirwa and Lands Minister Owek Martin Kasekende who (as the line minister supervising such projects) expressed optimism that by December 2019, the first batch of the houses will be ready.
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It’s a joint venture project in which Buganda Kingdom (desirous to uplift its people from squalid living conditions) provides the land and the Chinese inject in capital to construct the houses that Kabaka’s people will purchase on affordable terms. Officials explained that the Sentema housing project (to be built in phases) will comprise of 1 bed roomed houses (going at $10,000 which is roughly Shs37m), 2 bed roomed houses (going at $20,000/Shs74m) and 3 bed roomed houses (going at $30,000/Shs111m). Kyewalabye Male, whose Buganda Land Board is directly involved on the Kingdom’s behalf, says low costing coupled with buyers being permitted to pay in installments makes Sentema something that many young working Kampalans must look forward to.
NOBODY TO BE EVICTED;
Referring to Ssebwana (the Busiro Ssaza chief) who sat within spitting distance from where he was speaking, Mayiga assured all Sentema residents that none of them was going to be evicted because of the new project. “There is a lot of land there and the [phased] project will begin with the [80] acres which are freely available as an open space and let no body incite you basing on unfounded fears.” In any case, he explained, the social amenities like cheapened access to clean water, electricity and other infrastructure (resulting from location of such a mega modern housing project in their area) is something that must excite all Kabaka’s people living in the Sentema neighborhood. In the long time, there will be an Industrial Park (spearheaded by the Guoji Corporation-Buganda Kingdom partnership) in which hundreds of Sentema residents’ children will gainfully be employed. In fact the project promoters envisage that once they get employed that way, the Sentema youths will gradually build financial capabilities to either purchase and become house owners in the new estate or reconstruct to modernize their own dwellings. That way the entire neighborhood will rapidly urbanize. Wakiso LC5 Vice Chairperson Betty Naluyima, who represented her boss Matia Lwanga Bwanika, commended Katikkiro Mayiga for being a far sighted leader always prioritizing development for Kabaka’s people. Her presence at the MoU-signing ceremony was further testimony of the extent to which all the elected area leaders are on board actively supporting the housing project that will transform Sentema like no one has ever imagined. Kyewalabye Male said proximity to the city is one of Sentema’s biggest selling points as an upcoming residential neighborhood. Ssebwana’s presence at the MoU-signing was proof that the Buganda Kingdom local government infrastructure was fully behind the project that will increase the pride of Kabaka’s people living in Busiro County. Male urged Sentema residents to shun self-seekers who could be out inciting them against the project by referring to unfounded eviction fears. “The project is to make that Sentema area more developed. That is what Kabaka wishes for his people and it’s exactly what is going to happen. It’s not about evicting anyone and in any case BLB can’t go against the law which clearly protects Kabaka’s people who are already on part of the land in Sentema,” said Male who was equally involved in Mirembe Villas that has spectacularly transformed the Kigo neighborhood. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
