NATIONAL BUILDING REVIEW BOARD & ARUA CITY COUNCIL SNAPS OFF THE BARIFA ECO TOURISM DESIGN PLAN BY THE DEVELOPER - HON OGUZU LEE

National Building Review Board together with Arua city Council has resolved to snap off the current Mega West Nile Eco Tourism Plan and design of the developer  - Hon Denis Oguzu Lee.

The two authorities therefore have tusked the developer - Hon Denis Oguzu Lee  who also doubles as the the area Member Of Parliament for  Maracha  County to redesign his eco-tourism and recreational park construction plan that he is intending to undertake in Arua central reserve forest [Barifa] for it to be approves by the council for the work to commence.

^{The National Building Review Team} 

While addressing various stake holders at Mvara Primary Teacher Collage hall on Thursday 10th/11/2022, the architecture of National Building Review Board, Jenifer revealed that as the Board  have read through the plan submitted to them by Hon Denis Oguzulee and found out that the Eco-tourism and recreational park plan that he want to establish in the area needed to be review before the implementation takes place to avoid destruction of environment.

She further stressed that, the Review Board had found out that, the developers' plan would pause more harm to the Forest.

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The executive secretary of National building review board, Eng. Flavia peace Bwire says after the plan is being redesign they shall come back and review it and the later allow the work to start.

CUE;PEACE ON BARIFA FOREST.mp3

In 2019 the National forestry authority [NFA] granted Maracha county MP, Denis Oguzulee permission to construct an Ecotourism and recreational center after emerging as the best bidder. 

However, the Arua City Physical Planning Committed declined to grant the developer - Hon. Oguzu the permit following his application on May 21, 2021, citing among others illegality in the award of the license by the national forestry authority.

On May 2, 2022, Oguzulee petitioned the National Building Review Board challenging the decision of Arua city Physical planning committee to deny him a permit. 

On June 28, 2022, the National Building Review Board gave Arua City Physical Planning committee 15 day to consider and issue a permit for establish of ecotourism and recreational center.

Similarly, on July 11, 2022, the acting director of National Physical David Wamai wrote to the town clerk directing that Arua city to consider Oguzulee’s development request in line with the guidance of the National Forestry Authority and National Environment Authority.

However, the senior Physical planner of Arua city, Moses Findru maintained their stands of not approving the plan unless Hon Oguzu redesign the plan.

CUE;FINDRU ON BARIFA FOREST.mp3

The Division Mayor of Ayivu, Malon Avutia stressed that besides the redesigning of the plan,  there is needs for him to consider having the project elsewhere.

^{Ayivu Division Mayor - Malon Avutia Speaking to The Press}

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The city Mayor of Arua Wadri Sam Nyakua says that they are ready to approve the plan after the developer considers redesigning.

The former Arua Municipal MP Wadri Kasiano However on kind request called upon the Developer - Hon Oguzu Lee to consider the environmental threat of the project to the nearby communities. 

^{Hon. Wadri Kasiano Speaking}

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The plan submitted by Oguzu to the city physical planning committee indicates that the eco-tourism site will have tarmacked road connecting Hotels, swimming pools, health clubs, manufacturing facilities, stores, energy plants and composite plants ,among others.

However, Maracha County MP ,Denis Oguzu  says that his plan is  very okay in accordance to the ecotourism standard. 

^{Some of the Chaotic Scenes at the Meeting}

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In 2013, the then Arua municipal council approved plans for degazzettement of Arua [Barifa] central forest to pave way for an eco-city. However, the parliament differed the degazzettement citing loopholes in the approval’s process, Barifa central forest is 236 hectares.

STORY BY: ANWANGKANI FRANCO -Dailywestnile.info