Building expert warns on new museum!

Building expert warns on new museum
Sunday, 24th April, 2011
By Andante Okanya NORWEGIAN architectural expert and physical planner Cato Lund has warned of serious negative consequences if the proposed 60-storey East African Trade Centre is constructed on the Uganda Museum land. Lund, 75, who is also a physical planning don at Makerere University, was speaking at the High Court in Kampala on Thursday. He explained that the bee-hive of activity that would characterise construction of such magnitude would interrupt business at Mulago Hospital with noise and dust pollution, coupled with heavy traffic. Lund said the neighbouring Uganda Wildlife Authority, British High Commission, plus other adjacent structures may have to relocate. “The land cannot accommodate a 60-storey building. It would crush the museum. Such a structure needs a strong foundation,” he said Lund was testifying as a witness of the complainants in a suit filed against the Government over claims that the museum is to be demolished. The Attorney General (AG), who is the Government’s legal representative, is the defendant. The organisations that sued are Historic Resources Conservation Initiatives, Cross Cultural Foundations of Uganda, Historic Buildings Conservation Trust and Jenga Afrika. Their fears are based on an advert of January 14 placed by the tourism ministry in New Vision, calling for bidders to enter contracts with the Government to finance, design and build the proposed structure. The organisations want court to declare that the demolition is unequal to the use of the land as a site for the trade centre. They also said relocating the museum would destroy delicate artefacts and that no environmental impact assessment had been carried out. They advised that the structure be built elsewhere. But the Government has refuted the sinister demolition plot and has since maintained that it intends to construct the centre next to the building Housing the museum. According to the Government, the structure, which is to be completed in 30 years, will cost over sh760b. Asked by the complainants’ lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi whether the proposed structure would fit on the land, Lund said it would be impossible. The parties appeared before Justice Eldad Mwangushya. The AG was represented by State Attorney Susan Adong. Earlier, court framed points to define the course of the case. Rwakafuuzi said the contentious issue is whether it is practically possible to construct a 60-storey building without destroying the museum. But Adong said the contention is whether the building can be constructed on the land without destroying the museum. Lund said the proposed building would measure 3,000 square metres, which would mean between 3,000 and 4,000 people using it for office space. He said construction of such magnitude would mean deep excavation. Lund added that underground storeys would have to be constructed for parking space, which would “interfere with the water bed”. The hearing resumes tomorrow.