​Uvinje Project

​In 2014 a small community in the Bagamoyo district of Tanzania approached Protimos for assistance in asserting the lawful ownership of its land, in the face of attempts by the Tanzanian National Park Authority (‘TANAPA’) to illegally acquire and gazette it. As the matter has developed it has become clear that acquisition of the 3,000 acres of land (which is extremely valuable, containing a beach, fresh water and profuse wild-life) is the concealed strategy behind an attempt to build a large resort hotel. The strategy seems to be the ambition of a large leisure company based in Dubai which has been linked in the past to the former President of Tanzania. His son is the current Member of Parliament for the area. 

 This attempted acquisition is all the more challenging given that the community has historically assisted in the creation of a game reserve to protect the wildlife of the area, a reserve that is likely to be marketed as a potential attraction for visitors of the new hotel that is set to displace the community. The issue of illegal land acquisition has acquired notoriety in Tanzania in recent years. The newly elected President is vociferous in his determination to bring law and transparency to the country. 
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Protimos has drawn a legal team together to represent the villagers in their negotiations and possible litigation.