Businessman Haruna Sentongo has suffered a major setback after the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) demolished his building under construction along Nakasero Road in Kampala over alleged encroachment on a road reserve.
The building, which had reached about five floors, was pulled down by KCCA officials after the authority found that the development had not followed the approved building plan.
According to the approved plan, the buliding known as Haruna Towers, is supposed to have two twin towers, each with 16 storeys. It is estimated to cost Shs202 billion.
Vincent Byendaimira, KCCA’s director of Physical Planning, confirmed the demolition in a telephone interview with Bbeg Media.
“It is true. My team has demolished an illegal property that was still undergoing construction along Nakasero Road,” Byendaimira said.
Byendaimira said Ssentongo’s development had failed to comply with the plan approved by KCCA’s Physical Planning Department.
He said the authority intervened after establishing that the structure was being built within a road reserve, which is prohibited under Kampala’s physical planning regulations.
“The developer had not implemented the approved plan issued by the Physical Planning Department. The structure was encroaching on the road reserve, which was against the city planning regulations,” Byendaimira said.
The KCCA official, however, did not provide details about when the demolition was carried out or comment on the ownership of the building.
Sentongo declined to discuss the demolition and asked a reporter from Bbeg Media not to publish the story or take his photograph.
“I request you not to take my picture. I think as a man you know the situation I am in now,” Ssentongo said.
The building was located along Nakasero Road, near the Nigerian High Commission and adjacent to a branch of Housing Finance Bank.
The structure stood close to the road, raising concerns over its possible impact on traffic movement and the future expansion of the road.
KCCA said its decision to demolish the structure was based on the developer’s failure to follow the approved building plan and the alleged encroachment on the road reserve.
The demolition has left Ssentongo counting losses after construction had already progressed to several floors.
