Bambi Baaba Babuwe Mugonza, the Spiritual Leader of Ssesuranda foundation, defied a government directive halting the construction of the Free Trade Zone in Rakai.
In 2008, Government blocked Baaba from constructing a Free Trade Zone in Kabila, Kakuuto,and Kasasa sub counties in Rakai, over alleged controversies surrounding his Sseruland spiritual movement.
As a result, President Museveni set up a special commission of inquiry, headed by Prof Nelson Ssewankambo to investigate the activities of Sserulanda spiritual foundation.
The investigations stemmed from concerns about the establishment of a separate governmental structure to govern the 200 square miles in Rakai and the power the Ssesamirembe leaders will have to enact their own laws, ordinances, by-laws and procedures.
But although Government has not made the findings public, construction of the Tree Trade Zone has kicked off.
Over the weekend, a group of Members of parliament led by Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament and Rakai district leaders made a surprise visit at its headquarters in Kabila Sub County and found construction underway. The group also met Bambi Baaba Babuwe, the Sserulanda spiritual foundation leader at the entrance of his Baloola house.
Baaba told the MPs that he has started preliminary construction of the Free Trade Zone with about 12 permanent structures. Several other acres of land have been graded apparently for construction. He told members of parliament that he wants to speed up construction of the Free Trade Zone but unscrupulous government officials blocked $700billions loan facility meant for the construction of the free trade zone.
Baaba, who was dressed in a white robe red and black boots, told Kadaga that the Chinese Government signed a 700Billion dollar loan facility to kick start construction of Ssesamirembe Eco-City but Government officials blocked it.
He therefore asked Kadaga to go and ask President Museveni to ensure that the project money is released immediately.
Baaba explained that in the meantime, he has started preliminary construction on about two acres of his Kabila ranch until the $700billions funds for the whole project are released.
Baaba admits preserving bodies of dead people but explains that his beliefs allow him. He also defended his project saying it has no bad intentions but it is intended to boost not only the National economy but it will provide market and employment opportunities to Ugandans.
Speaking shortly after meeting the Spiritual leader Baaba, Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament said she was shocked such things were happening in Rakai, but government is not bothered. She said she is going to send the Parliamentary committee on Finance to investigate the whereabouts of the the funds .
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Amos Mandela, the Kooki county Member of Parliament, wondered why Mugonza had started putting structures yet government had not come up to pronounce its findings on the sect practices. He says Governement should intervene to pronounce itself on the project instead of allowing Baaba to secretely sneak in Chinise to construct the city without its knowladge.
But Mathias Kasamba, the Kakuuto County Member of Parliament wants Government to release his blocked funds to expedite the construction of the Free Trade Zone. Kasamba says he sees no problem with the project.
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The Lake Victoria Free Trade Zone, is designed to be East Africa's first self-administering, semi-autonomous free trade area. It is being marketed as the Hong Kong of Africa.
In January 2006, the Government of Uganda signed a compressive Memorandum of Understanding Kagera Eco-Cities Limited for the establishment of the free trade zone. The Memorandum of Understanding granted the eco-city powers of a municipality and a charter based on international best practices of governance.
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