Shock, anger as businessman razes Soroti’s only tennis court

Soroti.

Tennis lovers in Soroti Municipality may be forced to abandon playing the game after an Asian investor pulled down the only tennis court in the area.

Mr Saraswatichandra Batt, who claims ownership of the plot of land on which the tennis court sits, used court bailiffs to bring down the court infrastructure, including the fence, at Soroti Sports Club on Jumamabhai Road in Soroti Town on Wednesday.

Members of Soroti Sports Club have denounced the businessman’s action. Mr Raymond Ekadu, the president of the sports club, said: “This is a public asset that has stayed here for long,” he explained.

The tennis court has existed for the last 70 years and more than 40 tennis players converge at the court to play their favourite sport every day.

Mr Ekadu added that they have filed a case of criminal trespass and malicious damage of property against Mr Batt.

He said the tennis court was started by Indians but Soroti Sports Club took over the facility in the 1970s after Asians were expelled by then president Idi Amin. Mr Ekadu said their ownership of the place was granted by the Uganda Land Board.

Dr Charles Engoru, a member of the sports club, said he started playing tennis on this court while he was still a medical student in the 1970s, and said Mr Batt was not a member of the club even at the time when it was under Indian registration.

“I have been playing on this court for years. How Batt gets to claim it is disturbing,” he said.

Mr Engoru said they would reinstate the destroyed fence as they contest ownership of the facility in court.

When contacted, the Asian businessman declined to comment on the matter, saying he had entrusted it with court bailiffs.

Mr Patrick Sseno, the managing partner of Chap Chap General Auctioneers and Court Bailiffs, who executed the exercise, said they were executing an eviction order issued by the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Soroti, in 2013.

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