Tycoon Sudhir’s Son Risks 12 Years in Prison as Lake Victoria Scandal Shakes Uganda’s Richest Family

Businessman Sudhir Ruparelia’s son Rajiv is in trouble with National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) and the long arm of the law over a project on Lake Victoria.

Days ago, Nema executive director Dr Akankwasah Barirega, who was closely guarded by the Commandant of Environmental Police and other officers, undertook a verification inspection of Lake shore violations by Speke Hotel at Kitubulu, in Katabi, Entebbe.

Speke Hotel (1996) Ltd had acquired a permit to build a hotel where Ssese Gateway Beach was previously located with a condition of maintaining an 100m buffer zone.

Speke Hotel (1996) Ltd had also applied for a permit to build a marina, but this application was rejected.

Nema would later swing into action after Speke Hotel (1996) Ltd engaged in activities that violated their permit for the construction of a hotel.

Environmental police would later arrested Speke Hotel (1996) Ltd for pouring murram into the lake.

NEMA’S DIRECTIVES

On December 15, officials from Nema and Rajiv’s Speke Hotel (1996) Limited met at the environmental watchdog’s office to discuss how to sustainably undertake the project at Kitubulu, Katabi sub-county, Wakiso District, without compromising the integrity of Lake Victoria and the surrounding environment.

Nema had halted the project for breach of conditions that required the developer to first obtain a permit for developments in a lakeshore before commencing.

In the meeting chaired by ED Akankwasah, it was resolved that the Stop Notice issued to Speke Hotel (1996) Limited on December 10, 2021by NEMA will remain in force until the developer’s lakeshore user permit application submitted to NEMA last year is disposed of.

Nema also directed that Speke Hotel (1996) Limited should explore design adjustments take care of the impacts of the rising water levels of Lake Victoria so that the developer’s portion of the land taken up by the lake is kept as a lake or used for non-permanent structure uses like a beach.

“Excavation of murrum from burrow pits without approvals should stop immediately, and the relevant approvals should be sought in accordance with the law,” further ordered Nema.

“As an instant mitigation measure, the murram that has been dumped at the fringes of the lakeshore line MUST be immediately drawn backwards and levelled to avoid any siltation of the take. All construction on site remains suspended until relevant permits have been obtained, except for the gatehouse which is far from the lakeshore.”

The authority also tasked the developer to submit weekly reports of compliance to the issued Nema Stop Notice and resolutions of the meeting.

ENTER COURT

On December 21, lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi sued Rajiv in the Entebbe Chief Magistrates Court for undertaking activities in the protected zones along lake shores contrary to Section 53(6-7) of the National Environment Act, 2019.

“Since November 01, 2021, the accused has, with help of heavy machines under guard of Uganda Police and multiple Private Security Guards, been filling stones and rocky soil on Lake Victoria shores adjacent to Land described as Busiro Block 443 Plots 49, 50, 52, 74, 75 & 76 at Kongero, Wakiso District, along Entebbe Road, at a place commonly known as Kitubulu, Katabi Town Council, within your territorial Jurisdiction,” stated Mabirizi.

“To my surprise, the Uganda Police and National Environment Authority have neither arrested nor charged the accused pursuant to Section 53(6-7) of National Environment Act, 2019 which provide that “(6)… a person shall not undertake activities in the protected zones along lakeshores and natural beaches. (7) A person who contravenes subsection (6) commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand currency points or imprisonment not exceeding twelve years or both.”

If convicted, Rajiv would be required to pay a maximum penalty of Shs600m or 12 years imprisonment or both.

Court was yet to issue criminal summons against Rajiv.