The minister in charge of Kampala, Beti Kamya, has directed officials at Kampala Capital City Authority to approve the re-development plans of Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium.
Early this month, KCCA councillors passed a resolution to halt the re-development of the stadium after the eviction of park-yard vendors. It also issued a seven day ultimatum to Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu to remove the iron-sheets that enclosed the former park-yard market.
The construction work has been going on at the site despite the order and NTV has learnt that the trustees have no approved plan to start the project.
According to a letter written by the Minister for Kampala, Beti Kamya, KCCA’s Physical Planning Directorate withheld the plan to redevelop the stadium facility. In the letter dated Friday 10, March, 2017, Kamya states that a holding permit has not yet been issued.
The Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, however, did not take kindly to the contents of the letter. He argues that the minister flouted the law in ordering the eviction of park-yard market vendors. Lukwago says that the trustee of the re-development has no approved plan to carry on the construction.
Kamya’s letter also blames KCCA politicians of overstepping their authority. The minister says the stadium falls directly under the Ministry of Education and Sports, and called for the plans to be released quickly.
Section 79(2) of the KCCA Act awards the minister “general powers to give directives on policy and general development of the Capital City and the Authority shall comply with the directives.”
However, the powers are not absolute when the Authority has not acted contrary to the Law.