By Mulengera Reporters
During the Tuesday news conference at Uganda Media Centre, Information Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba addressed journalists about the Monday Cabinet resolutions (which included directing the Finance Ministry to find additional funding for irrigation projects and to also utilize funds available under the World Bank component to sustain refuge support operations, plus completing the instituting of the Uganda Development Corporation governing board).
The journalists used the plenary session, coordinated by David Serumaga, to ask questions on things they thought require clarification by the government. One of these was reporter Mukiibi from Buganda Kingdom’s BBS Terefayina who asked Lumumba about whether cabinet also discussed and pronounced itself on the President’s written directives obligating the Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda to prepare the allocation to a private businessman of public land comprised of Kampala City Square (2 acres) and Nakivubo Settlement Primary School’s 6 acres of prime land.
Lumumba said there was no discussion on that matter during the Monday Cabinet session; clarifying that doing so would be premature since Minsa Kabanda was yet to finalize her committee work whose reports is what the President is waiting for in order for the proposed redevelopment to proceed.
As all that is happening, Lumumba said no Minister, Civil Servant or any other government official is expected to come out with public statements contradicting the President’s wish and views on the proposed City Square redevelopment. She said that, even though they emerged through social media, the blue letters the public saw on the proposed redevelopment are genuine and well authenticated to have originated from the President.
She said, until the President’s view on the matter changes, all Ministers are bound by the doctrine of collective responsibility and the oath they took to put up with it regardless of whatever reservations any of them might be having about the proposed redevelopment. Lumumba added that other government officials are equally bound by the standing orders of public service not to publicly proclaim any views contrary to the President’s openness to having the young billionaire Hajji Hassan Bulwadda redevelop City Square.
Lumumba advised those with contrary views to put their views in writing and proceed to have the same communicated to the President in total silence as opposed to making controversial statements anywhere regarding the proposed City Square redevelopment.
Recent reporting by state-owned media indicated that Hajji Bulwadda was planning to sink up to $125m (roughly Shs400bn) to erect a huge shopping complex besides a hotel block among other recreation facilities-without breaching environmental regulations and safeguards. He also intends to preserve the monumental aspects of the City Square.
As Lumumba addressed reporters at Allan Kasujja’s Uganda Media Centre, Hajji Hassan Bulwadda joined the Kwagalana Group members to participate in the launching ceremony for Uganda Coffee Group at Gen Salim Saleh’s base in Kapeeka Nakaseke district. The event, during which some fundraising was undertaken to amplify Uganda’s coffee-related projects, started at 8am and was held at Kapeeka Industrial Park, Namunkekera. It was an invite-only event.
And at hand to receive the Kwagalana billionaires from Kampala was Gen Salim Saleh himself who also served as chief guest and chief fundraiser for the coffee project. Bulwadda’s presence at the event created quite a star as fellow billionaires kept reflecting and cracking jokes on the public debate his proposal to redevelop both Nakivubo Settlement Primary School and City Square had generated.
Besides being the President’s brother, Gen Salim Saleh also serves as Senior Presidential Advisor and Chief Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation (OWC). (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
