By Johnson Kanyesige
Hoima City Council has instituted a negotiation committee that will engage with different government agencies that recently secured land to set up regional offices to ensure that they compensate the city for the donations of land extended to them.
The committee has members Godfrey Kisseka the town clerk, Brian Kaboyo the mayor, Patrick Mugabi, Jackline Bacwa, and Joshua Byenka who are councilors.
In a council sitting on Thursday at HB Hotel, councilors noted they have so far recommended donating land to different government agencies with no strings attached to support them set up regional offices in Hoima city, an arrangement that is viewed as enhancing development in the area. However, the council has since been guided by the town clerk Godfrey Kiseka to seek compensation and more engagements with these agencies who got land in the city.
Some of the government agencies and institutions that have so far benefited from this arrangement include the inspectorate of government, National medical stores, Immigration offices, Judiciary among others.
Joshua Byenkya the Hoima West male councilor says right now the city is looking for over 50 acres of land to manage garbage in the city yet they have donated land to these organizations.
Byenkya who is a chairperson on the negotiation committee says they want to attach a compensation clause on the council’s recommendation of donating land to these agencies to ensure they also benefit from the land as a city and they are now on the move to engage them on the matter.
Patrick Mugabi the male workers councilor says the agencies have bigger budgets that the city council and they also need land for new projects.
He says these agencies should compensate the city such that the funds can be used in other developments planned by the authorities.
However, the Hoima East male councilor Idd Magezi decried some forces behinds which he says are influencing the councilors who are now opposing the idea of donating land to different agencies. Magezi called for everyone to be on board to develop the city they want.
Sylvia Nalumaga Balyesiima the deputy lord mayor says they have not withdrawn their donations but through the guidance of the town clerk they want to engage the organisations to see how they can support other developments in the city.
