Leaders in Masindi Municipality are divided over the proposed architectural designs for the redevelopment of Masindi Taxi Park under the Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development (UCMID) Programme. The disagreement emerged during a stakeholders’ meeting held at De’Venue Hotel in Masindi Town, where conceptual designs and a feasibility study for the project were presented.
Mary Harriet Kaahwa Kugonza, an architect from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, presented two design options for the proposed taxi park. The first proposal features a three-level structure, from the ground floor to the second floor, with 241 commercial rooms and 74 parking bays for taxis at an estimated cost of Shs16.3 billion.
The second design proposes 177 commercial rooms at an estimated cost of Shs13.9 billion. The presentations sparked differing views among municipal leaders. While some supported the larger and more ambitious design, others argued that the less costly option would be more realistic and easier to complete.
Masindi Municipal Council Planner Daniel Kisakye backed the first design, saying the municipality has an acute shortage of commercial rental space. He noted that when the municipality enforced a trade order to remove vendors from the streets, many traders struggled to find business premises because of the limited number of available rooms.
Godfrey Musindi, the councillor representing Civic Ward, also supported the first proposal, arguing that the municipality should plan for future expansion since Masindi Town continues to grow. However, Denis Kunihira, President of the Masindi Development Forum, urged leaders to prioritize a design that can be implemented without delays.
He argued that opting for the less expensive second design would increase the chances of completing the project within two financial years, rather than pursuing a more costly plan that could stall because of funding constraints.
Masindi Municipality Mayor Rogers Amanyire cautioned against choosing projects solely because they are larger or more expensive. He reminded leaders that funding under the UCMID Programme is intended to support several priority projects, including road infrastructure, and should therefore be allocated prudently.
Located along Masindi’s Main Street, the existing taxi park is plagued by dusty conditions, inadequate lighting, insufficient passenger shelters and poor sanitation facilities. Residents, business operators and taxi drivers have repeatedly appealed to the municipal leadership to expedite the construction of a modern taxi park, saying the deteriorating state of the current facility continues to inconvenience motorists, passengers and traders alike-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
