NHC starts work on giveaway scheme for Popondetta

By HELEN TARAWA
WORK has started on a “giveaway scheme” for home owners in Popondetta currently living in National Housing Commission (NHC) properties.
The Ijivitari development authority (DDA) working with the NHC has identified 121 properties and is working with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning to give away these homes.
Yesterday, Ijivitari MP Richard Masere paid the outstanding arrears of K146,409 to NHC, enabling owners of those homes to receive the titles once the process was completed with the Lands Department.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Justin Tkatchenko said Ijivitari was the first district to settle the outstanding arrears to NHC and commended Masere for the initiative.
“Member for Ijivtari has shown the initiative to go out there and identify in his district all those houses under the giveaway scheme that still had arrears and outstanding payments and identify occupants,” he said.
“This is an example for other MPs to do likewise and work with NHC and whatever we can do under the giveaway scheme. We are more than happy to facilitate to make it happen so that our people can finally own their houses.
“Masere has come on board with his initiative to put money for this project to ensure that his people own their houses they have been living in for many years.”
Masere said the Ijivitari DDA had engaged Broadway Industry Ltd to identify the 191 houses that were selected under the home giveaway scheme. He said through the vetting exercise out of the 191 homes, 121 were occupied by the actual tenants as per the NHC list. “We have now paid the outstanding arrears and would ensure to have the titles of the homes,” Masere said. “The money is to settle the arrears and clear off the conveyance land fee to allow for process of titles to change smoothly from NHC to the current owners.
“We hope that by the end of this month we can get the titles so we can present them to the owners.”