ENTEBBE, Uganda – A growing wave of opposition is meeting the proposed allocation of the 150-acre Kitubulu Forest to the Tiang Tiang Group of Companies for development, with local leaders in Entebbe Municipality condemning the move as a severe error in judgment.
The controversial plan has drawn sharp criticism from community representatives, who argue it prioritizes commercial interests over vital environmental conservation. Entebbe Mayor, Fabrice Rulinda, has emerged as a leading voice against the proposal, stating that those behind it are “misguided.”
In a strong rebuke, Mayor Rulinda asserted that the proponents of the forest giveaway display a “negative attitude toward environmental conservation.” He emphasized the critical need to preserve the green lung of the peninsula, questioning the logic of destroying a natural ecosystem for new construction.
Further bolstering his argument, the Mayor pointed to existing commercial realities in Entebbe. He contended that the Entebbe Peninsula already has ample land suitable for developments such as supermarkets and other commercial ventures.
Cautioning against the potential for market saturation, Rulinda highlighted that existing businesses, including shopping malls and hotels, are already struggling to attract sufficient customers. The addition of more commercial space, he implied, would be economically unsound as well as environmentally destructive.
The standoff sets the stage for a significant confrontation over land use, pitting development ambitions against environmental preservation and economic pragmatism in one of Uganda’s key municipalities.
