Members of Parliament (MPs) sitting on the Finance Committee have questioned the request by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to acquire Shs 250Bn for the purchase of 446 acres of land in Namanve for the expansion of the Kampala Industrial Business Park.
Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, UIA officials led by the Acting Executive Director, Lawrence Byensi sought the help of the legislators to have the funds availed since the vote is under the authorities unfunded priorities.
The officials had appeared to present the Authority’s 2019/2020 budget framework paper following the budget cut from Shs 11.5Bn approved in 2018/2019 to Shs 10.9Bn in the upcoming 2019/2020 budget.
“Among our unfunded priorities is the purchase of 446 acres of land in Namanve at Shs 250bn. The Authority has over 10o applications for land from investors with projects in the priority sectors,” Byensi noted.
But the Mitoma Woman MP, Jovah Kamateeka tasked the team to explain why they would request for purchase of more land yet there is still land that is laying under utilized.
Other legislators wondered why UIA seeks to purchase more land in Namanve instead of looking for more land in other places in the country.
The legislators as well wondered why UIA hasn’t earmarked any funds in the 2019/2020 to clear its Shs 2.3Bn debt.