The ongoing construction of the canteen and restaurant at Lira mayors garden. Photo by Sharon Akello
By Sharon Akello
Lira: Lira City Council has injected shs834m for fencing off the mayor’s garden to enhance revenue collection and prevent land grabbers.
The shs834m is part of the shs2.5b additional funding from the World Bank under the Uganda Support to Municipal Development project (USMID-AF). The contract for works has been awarded to a private company, Dubai Garden Centre (U) Limited.
This project, which involves planting trees, and flowers, and erecting more structures at the city council premises, is expected to be completed on June 28, 2024.
According to the breakdown of the project components, beautification, and landscaping will cost shs82m, erecting a chain link fence will cost shs188m, construction of the guardhouse shs195m, construction of the public toilet shs180m, construction of the canteen and restaurant shs115M meanwhile construction of vehicles shed at shs60m.
Lira City Town Clerk, Theophilus Tibihika, said the smooth running of the USMID project was the reason for bonus funding that benefited several cities and municipalities across the country including Lira City.
Sam Atul, Lira City mayor said once the works are complete, the revenue stream of Lira City council will increase through the hiring of garden space, a canteen, and restaurants.
Atul argued that beautification has another component to it, apart from making the place look smart.
“The gardening aspect will give us space behind the council building, which can be hired for social functions,” Atul said.
He urged the people of Lira to believe in them, much as they were not consulted on which project the City should undertake with the shs2.5bn from the USMID.
“We are doing it in the spirit of selling Lira City to the world,” he added.
Leonard Otika, Lira City Environment Officer, said the dream of having a green, pleasing, and healthy environment in the city is now a reality.
“It has been something that we have been yearning for years. I am very happy that we are moving forward as a city. We should not just be talking, we want to be seen doing things. We need to live in a pleasing environment,” Otika said.
Alfred Okello, from Dubai Garden Center Uganda Ltd, expressed optimism that the project would be completed within the stipulated time.
“We pledge a good job. We shall commit ourselves to executing this project in a record period. We will not compromise on quality because we are hoping that this will make Lira a modern city,” Okello said.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Egole, the Lira Resident City Commissioner, called upon the city councilors to ensure the beautification of the council premises since this is where they do most of their tasks.
Egole is hopeful that the beautification will also go beyond the city council premises to cover other parts of the city.
“Let us embrace the beautification of Lira City in any way. We hope that when we start with the council, we will also move out and ensure that our environment in Lira City is green,” Egole said.
Project to safe guard against grabbers
According to the report from the State House Anti-corruption Unit, from December 2018 up to date, about 543 people have been arraigned in courts and charged with the fraudulent sale and procurement of government land.
Out of the 543, from across the country, 292 are civil servants and 251 are private individuals. In Lira City alone, 22 civil servants and private individuals were also charged with the same.
Those arraigned before the State House Anti-corruption court over irregular titling and sale of part of the mayor’s garden include; former Deputy City Clerk Patrick Ogweng, former Lira City Physical Planner Geoffrey Omara, former secretary Lira District Land Board Okello Francis Olwa and Patrick Olet, a businessman in Lira City.
Those arrested for the fraudulent sale of plot 41 church road in Ireda Estate include; the head of the Natural Resources department for Lira District Fabious Otike, senior land management officer, Joseph Ocen Alwong, Francis Ateng, the former Principal Assistant Secretary in-charge of Lira Zonal Office Ministry of Land together with Justus Kabaizi, former chairperson Area land committee, Bazil Opio Eramo among others.
