Entebbe-Uganda/Newsday: Ruparelia Group of Companies Friday came out and said they own the Kitubulu beach project but said contrary to a viral video which appeared to show a lakeside being refilled with soil they were working within the acceptable confines of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and the width of their land.
For a week running, a video captured by a woman showed soil allegedly dumped near Lake Victoria.
But on Friday, a youthful tycoon and son to businessman Sudhir Ruperelia, a major shareholder in the Ruparelia Group conglomerate, Mr. Rajiv Ruperelia, said it was not true they had dumped soil into Lake Victoria.
“The video alleging we are filling part of the lake with soil is not true. It is being played by selfish politicians,” Rajiv said during a press conference held at Kitubulu.
What seemed evident at the tour of the site are risen water levels like it occurred around all lakeside areas around lake Victoria last year and to overcome future disruptions, the Ruperelia group said they were raising the ground within the titles land so that even at the worst times when water rises again, their developments will not be affected.
“When you take a look at our title, we have not entered even an inch into the lake. In fact the lake ate into our acreage that we had at the time of purchasing this land but we won’t extend it,” Rajiv said adding they are one of the prominent groups acclaimed for environmental protection.
The place under development is Kitubulu formerly Ssese Gateway beach, located in Katabi Town Council in Entebbe.
Ruperelia group announced ground leveling currently being done was paving ground for a Shs.3.6 trillion leisure and accommodation park that will be known as the Speke Resort Convention Centre Entebe. It will be a 350 room resort and convention centre, with 4 restaurants, marina for 50 boats, 10 presidential suites, Convention Centre with carrying capacity of 3500 persons, additional conference facilities of upto 1500 persons, small conference and meeting facilities, 3 wedding grounds and parking space for 1500 cars.
Some residents of Kitubulu who donned white t-shirts said they welcomed the ongoing developments.
“Our economy wants more investments. There should not be any sabotage,” they said.
NEMA issued a 99 year long certificate dated July 17 to Speke Resort Convention Centre Entebe clearing use of 15 acres of land at Kitubulu, Katabi Town Council Entebbe.
Ruparelia Group is involved in education, real estate development and management, hotels, resorts, floriculture and broadcasting. In November 2012, Forbes Magazine estimated Sudhir’s net worth at US$900 million, making him the wealthiest individual in Uganda at the time.
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