Soroti City Council has finally raised a green flag to Soroti golf Club Ltd to begin developing the golf land as fast as possible.
The pronouncement by Soroti City council comes at a dramatic time when public has been having mixed reactions on rumors that earlier on circulated with claims that former aspirant for Soroti City West Division MP, Calvin Ecodu had grabbed the golf course land belonging to the public.
The propaganda busted when the Soroti City council in June 2023 brought down the building erected by Soroti golf club Ltd after falling into a disagreement over the entitlements.
One of those who ran to social media over the issue was Captain Mike Mukula the NRM National Vice Chairman Eastern region who accused Pilgrim for allegedly grabbing land belonging to the golf course and incited the public to mount resistance.
The growing concerns pushed the Members of Parliament including the Woman Member of Parliament Joan Alobo Acom and Soroti City West Division Mp, Jonathan Ebwalu to task the accused technical staff in the alleged transaction to account to the public on the fate of the golf course amongst other public property.
The baraza brought together the Soroti City officials led by the City Clerk Daniel Christopher Kawesi and the Soroti City Mayor Joshua Edogu, the Chairman Soroti City Land Board Jorem Opian Obicho, opinion leaders and the members of the public at Soroti public gardens on Monday 2nd October 2023.
Alobo said that there was need to bring the leaders and the technical staff to account to public the extent of service delivery and the state of public property especially the land and other entities.
“I and my colleague Jonathan Ebwalu have organized this public consultative meeting as we also play our legislative role of oversight,” she said.
Jonathan Ebwalu said “We have been receiving roomers on social media about the unlawful manner in which the public land is being handled by technical staff, we are therefore here for a fact finding mission as members of parliament.”
While addressing the public gathering, the Soroti City Clerk Daniel Christopher Kawesi put forward the detailed narrative on purported incident that left everyone speechless.
On the issue of the golf course land, the humble speaking city clerk stated that no land had been sold to any one by the city council.
“Ecodu has never grabbed land like it has been purported, we as Soroti City welcome every investor who can develop free space and bring benefits to the public, be it employment, revenue among others, and Mr. Ecodu is not exceptional.” he said.
Adding, “We brought down the building of Soroti golf club Ltd because of procedural matters unfortunately, we found that they had a lease land title running for a duration of 49 years right from 2008, we therefore had to harmonize ourselves with them and they are now free to go on with their development.”
Joshua Edogu the Mayor Soroti City cautioned the members of public from falling into rumours circulated by those he terms as enemies of progress but rather approach their offices for reliable information.
“It is very important to always confirm the information before running with it because it will turn into defamatory which is unlawful.”
A case point is Pilgrim Organization last month dragged Capt. Mike Mukula to Court over defamation on the same matter, if found guilty, the embattled NRM regional chairman will have to pay damages between Ushs 500,000,000 to 1,000,000,000 depending on court decision