Skip to main content

National Physical Planning Boss Directs Arua City Clerk to Allow MP Oguzu to Develop Barifa Forest.



The National Physical Planning Board (NPPB) Acting Executive Director, David Wamai has written to Arua City Clerk directing him to allow Maracha County MP, Denis Lee Oguzu to continue with his development plans in Barifa central forest reserve (CFR).

The leaked letter dated July 11, 2022 follows years of blocking Oguzu from implementing his plan to transform Barifa forest into an eco-tourism facility in the heart of Arua City.

This is after the MP secured a 2-year license from the National Forest Authority (NFA) for eco-tourism development and forest conservation activities in part of the 236 hectares of Barifa CFR.

MP Oguzu shows some of his Barifa CFR related documents during a recent press conference. PHOTO BY ANDREW COHEN AMVESI

“Reference is made to your letter dated 14th April, 2022 in which you sought clarification on resolutions 3 and 4 of the Board in respect to Hon. Oguzu Lee Denis’ development request which was communicated to you vide ours of even reference dated 15th December, 2021,” Wamai’s letter read in part.

The letter adds: “Further reference is made to my letter of even reference dated 14th March, 2022 in which I requested you for an update on the matter following the guidance you had received from National Forest Authority on standards and guidelines for establishment of eco-tourism and recreational facilities. Take note that the five grounds upon which you deferred the development request were reviewed and Board’s guidance was communicated to you in the letter stated above.”

Wamai later directed the City Clerk, Paul Batanda to allow Oguzu to proceed with his intended activities in Barifa CFR.

“The purpose of this letter therefore is threefold: To inform you that the Board’s resolutions as communicated in the letter of 15th December, 2021 still stands and as such you are urged to reconsider Hon. Oguzu Lee Denis’ development request in line with guidance of the National Forest Authority and National Environment Management Authority. You are required to communicate to the developer within two weeks from the date of receipt of this letter,” Wamai directed.

“To also submit the progress report on the implementation of the Arua City Physical Development Plan and to submit the Minutes of the proceedings of Arua City Physical Planning Committee for FY 2021/22,” Wamai further directed.

Wamai, however, guided that Arua City Council should carry out regular guidance, monitoring and supervision to ensure that the development complies with the standards, conditions and all other requirements of eco- tourism development, adding that Arua City Council should also regularly update the Board on the progress of the development as required by the Physical Planning Act’, 2010

It is on this ground that Oguzu is expected to revive his plan of transforming Barifa forest into an Eco-tourism facility.


Story Compiled by Andrew Cohen

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

UGANDA ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO ELIMINATE NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS (IDs) FOR 2021 GENERAL ELECTIONS.

The elimination of using National IDs (Ndagamuntu) for the 2021 elections should not have come as a surprise. One would be very NAIVE to think that Bobi Wine has not prepared for this in his Business Plan under the RISK section. It is public knowledge that our EC is not independent.  It is also public knowledge that Military Dictator Yoweri Museveni will never lose an election. What stunned us this morning is when we noticed that on social media, people were mocking Bobi with his "get your Ndagamuntu".  We are on record for saying to all Our readers that the National ID is like Apartheid in South Africa. Students of History would know how those IDs were being used to arrest people, deny them jobs, deny them basic services. Consequently, Bobi was not wrong and will never be wrong on the Ndagamuntu. Except the ones attacking him and mocking him forget that in Uganda, now, no National ID (Ndagamuntu), no service.  If you have not been denied registering your child i...

Here is Why Our Utterances For Praying Jesus And God To Come Liberate Ugandans, May Be Misplaced. This Phrase is like inform of a Letter To Some Categorized Section Of Ugandans.

https://m.facebook.com/yusufosuta/photos/a.1896701010557789/2070383359856219/?type=3 OPEN LETTER TO NRM SUPPORTERS - NATIONAL ROBBERS MOVEMENT. .................................................................................. Last week of March, a friend told me to pray for Uganda.  I told him that he was an Idiot and we have prayed for too long and we are still hungry and sick and Jesus is not coming soon to liberate us. He then ignored the STUPID and sent me a picture we all now know.  It got me totally messed up.  This guy was telling me to pray then sends a picture of men bowing down in blood.  He might have meant guns but I blocked him because his utterances of praying for Uganda were misplaced. I unblocked him 3 weeks later and asked him about praying and assassinations.  His reply "eithrr prayers or guns or both". I hate violence with a passion.  So he is now blocked in like FOREVER. Do you feel safe?  Do not feel safe. Uganda regim...

Parliament Urges Government to Provide Shs 4 Billion to Media Houses to Run Awareness Campaign on Tourism in Uganda.

Parliament also urged Gov’t to provide additional Shs4Bn to UTB to engage international and national media houses in production of positive media stories for improved destination image, following reports of drop in number of tourists from US, Europe and China visiting Uganda. "The National Development Plan targeted to cumulatively attract 281,760 International Tourist arrivals from US, Europe & China but only 67,252 arrivals were registered by the end of the first half of FY 2023/24. The U.S, Europe & China were key target source for leisure tourist who stay longer than business tourists. However, statistics show that international arrivals from the aforementioned areas have continue to drop. The UTB requires Shs4Bn to engage international & national media houses in production of positive tourism stories to improve destination perception in light of recent controversies that shade the destination in a bad light. However, this has remained unfunded,” said La...