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Entebbe Municipal Council in fresh plot to demolish kiosks
Some of the kiosks on Kiwafu Road in Kitooro that Entebbe Municipal Council want demolished. PHOTO BY Martin Ssebuyira
What you need to know:
About five agents of the municipal council, who had gone to demolish kiosks at Kitooro Trading Centre recently, survived being lynched by angry residents.
ENTEBBE
Barely a month after traders blocked Entebbe Municipal Council from demolishing their kiosks in Kitooro, authorities are contemplating fresh ultimatum to effect the same.
A source in the council who refused to be named for fear of reprisal, said they are holding meetings to have the kiosks demolished though still fear pressure from politicians shielding the traders for their own interests.
“The kiosks are illegal and no longer suit Entebbe as an urban authority,” Mr Dan Kaweesa, the town clerk, said in an interview. He said they are still awaiting the council executive to come out with a strong resolution to have the kiosks demolished because the stalls are “a ridicule to Entebbe that is the gateway to and from the country.”
About five agents of the municipal council, who had gone to demolish illegal kiosks at Kitooro Trading Centre recently, survived being lynched by angry residents. The agents had started demolishing kiosks on Kiwafu Road, saying they were built on road reserves.
Licenced to trade
Sensing danger, the agents took to their heels to the nearby Division B offices. But the traders followed them there threatening to ‘harm’ the Division B chairman, Mr Anthony Segujja, who also feared the furious traders and fled for his life.
By yesterday, traders were still insisting that they will not allow the authorities to evict them because they were licenced to trade in the area. “Where were they when we were erecting them and how comes they offered us licences to operate and have been renewing them annually?”Mr Kassim Ssekandi, one of the traders, asked. He said the kiosks are located on private land and that they pay rent, adding that this should not be the concern of the council.
Mr Sam Tebandeke, also a trader, said the council should first think of relocating them before demolishing their businesses because kiosk owners are not illegal traders and contribute to the development of the municipality.
Mr Kaweesa, however, said they license traders with different regulations, some of which the traders have defaulted. He took particular note to alleged constructing of kiosks in road reserves, saying the council cannot allow it. He said council is mandated to approve structures in the area and demolish illegal ones.
