Fifty percent of the tenants in the Nakawa and Naguru housing estates have sold off their interests in owning flats in the area under the mortgaging arrangement.
Joseph Asaba, an official working with the ministry of local government says tenants and buyers are converging at the verification centre at Naguru community centre to establish the genuineness of the transactions.
Asaba says interested buyers and sellers are being assisted by the ministry of local government officials to verify the transactions. He says the sellers are presenting the registration certificate issued to them by the local government ministry in 2006, and a copy of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2007.
The official explains that in case of death of the original tenant, a death certificate is produced by the next of kin, and then the buyer signs a transfer form indicating that the original tenant’s interest has been changed to a new person.
He says the two interested parties each produce a passport photo and the date is computerized.
Asaba notes that even the tenants that had declined to pick their memorandums of understanding have picked them for the purpose of selling their interests.
Joseph Ojok, one of the Nakawa former tenants says the prices for the house numbers are now between 10 and 15 million shillings. He says middle men are linking up the buyers and the sellers.
Ojok adds that when the two reach an agreement, both the buyer and the seller proceed to the verification centre and payment to effect payment.
Uganda Radio Network contacted Ojok at Nakawa while in the process of linking up buyers and sellers. He says at present some of the tenants who have not sold off their interest are expecting the price to rise. He notes in 2003 the houses were being sold at 1.5 million shillings and today the price has reached 15 million shillings adding that those who have not sold are asking for 20 million shillings plus.
Ojok says most of the buyers are mainly from the ministry of local government and Kampala Capital City Authority, who have interests in the houses. He however declines to give more details about the buyers.
Government had promised to give the sitting tenants the first priority in owning the flats to be completed in four years’ time.
PECPRIME Properties, a UK-based company won the tender to redevelop the two estates. The company is expected to construct 1,750 high rise modern flats on 66 hectares at a cost of 300 million dollars.
The project shall also include the construction of luxurious bungalow residential houses and large modern commercial complexes.
