The controversy surrounding the Hoima boma land giveaway for the hospital’s expansion has attracted the attention of President Museveni as the year draws to a close.
George Bagonza Tinkamanyire, the Hoima district chairman says the president has resolved that the boma land be left intact.
Bagonza says that the president recently instructed the government chief whip, to ensure that the hospital’s expansion project is not lost in the confusion.
Bagonza, whose council in May this year gave away the boma land to the hospital for expansion explains that another wing of the hospital will instead be built in Kibati on the hospitals acquired land in the outskirts of Hoima town.
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There has been a strong resistance from a group of residents and the sports fraternity. The group argued that boma; the only open ground in town could not be disposed off and urged the hospital authorities to secure land for the hospital’s expansion elsewhere.
The relentless group wrote letters to the lands ministry and donors of the project to showcase their resistance to the giveaway, a move that saw the project progress hang in balance.
Government and the Japanese International Corporation Agency-JICA are funding the multi-billion project aimed at improving health services at the regional referral hospital through better infrastructure.
News of this development has been received positively by the group that opposed the giveaway.
Ausi Balyesiima, chairman Hoima citizens committee that spearheaded the resistance, describes the development as good news.
Balyesiima however faults the district council for not heeding his group’s demands earlier saying all this confusion could have been avoided.
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Susen Barongo, the Chairman Hoima district sports committee says the battle is now won and that the future of sports in the district is brighter.
It however now remains to be seen how a council minute giving away the boma land will be reversed.
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