Secrets why Mbarara City council has failed to remove illegal kiosks

Amos Tayebwa

Mbarara

Mbarara City Council leadership is being accused by the public of negligence and incompetence over failure to implement council resolutions to remove all the mushrooming illegal structures/ kiosks from the town center and the outskirts.

Apparently, there are various resolutions that were passed by Mbarara City Council and Mbarara City South Division Council against the illegal structures which should be demolished or removed from Mbarara Town for the better development of the Town.

However, these resolutions have not been implemented since December, the time when they were passed in the council meetings.

It is also alleged that most of the kiosks in Mbarara City are owned by the top officials, politicians and the tycoons who are untouchables, something that has affected the implementation of Council resolution to remove them.

It is highly alleged that the Kiosks constructed opposite Baguma Hotel are owned by one of top politicians in Mbarara City Council who has threatened against enforcement towards the removal of those kiosks. It is also alleged that some kiosks located at Katete bridge are owned by one of the Speakers in Mbarara City.

**Some of the illegal Kiosks opposite Baguma Hotel**

The state of physical planning in Mbarara City today is worrying about the development of the town that creates the possibility of turning many areas in this town into slums.

According to the sources, corruption in Mbarara is the biggest thing that has changed the City plan because some of the implementers are beneficiaries of those illegal structures.

The most affected areas where a number of kiosks have been constructed include Kijungu road, Bataringaya road , Bishop Macklista road, Kyamugororanyi road, TASO road, Bucunku road, Akiki Nyabongo road, Robo road and some other parts of Katete Town.

It is alleged that some Mbarara City Council officials pocket between Shs150,000 and 300,000oeach from each kiosk erected.

“I admit that the implementation to remove illegal kiosks was meant to be done way back in January but because of not being ready we had postponed it to March but still now as we speak we have not had it implemented for the one reason that we have not yet received enough funds.

“This is an activity that requires thorough planning as well as funding and we have had some challenges with getting funds to have this activity implemented. Basically to me as an administrator that is the major reason why I haven’t started on the implementation.

“But I want to assure you that the day we get funds you will see us swing into action to have this activity implemented. But still there could be some interests and parties trying to sabotage us but that one I don’t care and don’t mind, for us we are still on Council resolution and the moment we get funds we shall implement,” said Muhanguzi, Mbarara City South Division Town Clerk.

Some leaders from the Division Councils have threatened to petition the Minister Local Government and the Permanent Secretary against some of the officials in Mbarara City Council.