British High Commission Team Visits NEMA Over Shs91bn Project

A team of British High Commission recently visited The National Environmental Management Commission (NEMA) to inquire about a $25m (Shs91bn) project in Namanve Mukono. 

The visit which took place on October 3, 2024 aimed to facilitate NEMA's approval of the applied for amended NEMA certificate .

During the meeting with NEMA's team led by Aiden Julian Asekenye, received the digital file containing several reports. However,they were informed that the physical file remains in the office of Dr.Akankwasa Barirega NEMA's executive director .

The review of the Shs91bn project remained incomplete due to Barirega's three weeks absence at the Biological Diversity Conference(CBD Cop16) in Colombia which began on October21and concluded on November 1 2024.

During his trip, Barirega directed Leila Akello Gonasa,NEMA's principal Environmental inspector(Engineering) to draft a letter stating the Investor's applicaton rejection on grounds that two of the nine acres of land fall within the wetland, unless the president of Uganda Gen Museveni intervened.

The parties interested in the project include the Arch Emerging Markets, British High Commission Uganda and British Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Lord Poppat.

The three month delay in the issuance of a replacement of a NEMA certificate has become an International issue given that the project is jointly being financed for Kenya, Uga da, Tanzania and Rwanda. 

Cold Solutions Kazi Limited (CSKL) acquired the 9-acre piece of land in January 2024 on the basis that NEMA had already approved and issued a certificate for the plots , purportedly signed by Akankwasa. 

This property is located in Block 113 freehold plots 1458 and 2324. The company is expected to start a Shs91bn project which dealers in cold storage , agro processing and vegetable warehousing, the First of its kind in East Africa.

This was after the company sought to change the name and also usage from Truck parking to Cold storage solutions and warehousing in order to obtain and replace a certificate in the name of Cold Solutions Kazi Limited.

According to the investor, the scoping report and terms of reference for the environmental and social impact assessment for the Namanve Cold Storage facility at Kolo, Buwanyivillage, Goma Division Mukono  District municipality in April 2024.

"All processes were followed and completed , file generated and sanctioned by NEMA officials which was forwarded to the Executive Director in vain they learnt. 

NEMA received additional documents and sent a team of four senior officers led by Emilo Odongo, to inspect the area. During the inspection they noted the proximity of the Jinja highway, approximately 200metres away and observed the boundaries of Kazi plots, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)band the Lagaan Road Network in the same vicinity. 

The Uganda Government is sponsoring this project which is slated to commence soon.

NEMA officials observed that the Kazi plots are connected at both ends by two road networks. This report also gives a very positive response for approval of Kazi plots for the development of the project.

The reports were made by a NEMA officer in Mukono, Ministry of water and Environment .

The three reports fully counterbalanced the previous yellow lines used . However, all the reports were not uploaded into the MEMAvmaster file under reference ESLA/289/2024/5 but kept at the executive Director's office.

According to the Cold Solution, on September 28 ,2024 ,investors submitted a letter to Akankwasa expressing dissatisfaction and alleging double standards.

Specifically Kazi pointed out that the Uganda Investment Authority approved plots near their plots yet their application has been rejected.

Dr Akankwasa advised the investors to consult with the President to resolve the Matter.

NEMA Speaks out.

When contacted for a comment, Dr Barirega said that on September 2 2021 NEMA suspended any further approval for developments in wetlands following presidentuseveni's directive.

The ED again advised that the investors should seek appointment with the president for away forward on the project.

He stated that due to different interpretations among NEMA staff on what is on the ground and the project's importance, the president's guidance is the solution to the dilemma.