By KT Reporter
A section of property brokers in Masaka City Council has lashed out at the technical staff for allegedly aiding shambolic construction activities in gazetted road reserves, service lanes and greenbelts in the area.
The accusations have arisen from a recent ban on the sale of undersized plots of land, which was adopted as a strategic policy to stop the development of shabby slums in the city.
In January, the Masaka City Clerk, Daniel Kaweesa, issued a directive restricting the approval of any architectural plans on plots without sizeable green spaces, banning the subdivision and sale of plots below measurements of 50 by 100 feet.
The regulation also emphasizes strict adherence to the approved physical plan to ensure that the City is well-developed and instead not turned into slums.
Kaweesa blames the construction mess, especially in areas that were recently annexed to the city on unregulated land brokers, whom he accuses of violating the City’s physical plan by creating illegal plots and proceeding to put up structures without any clearance.
However, the land brokers are challenging the City leadership to carry out a thorough audit on all questionable construction projects in the area, arguing that many of the illegal developers are aided by some technical staff.
Musa Kabiito, the Secretary General of Masaka United Brokers and Property Dealers Association, indicates that many times, some technical officers have connived with the developers to deceitfully alter the approved physical plan of areas to meet their selfish desires.
According to him, many illegal structures constructed in gazetted road reserves and encroachments on utility services lanes are aided by some technical officers who create false impressions that can change the design of targeted areas, hence misleading the unsuspecting developers.
Kabiito accuses the Ward Administrators of acting as agents between illegal developers and the Technical staff responsible for authorizing building plans.
Fred Ssendege, another land dealer in Masaka City, has also blamed the law enforcement officers for laxity while executing their responsibilities, arguing that some of the illegal construction works have proceeded without administrative interference.
He has challenged the City Clerk to scrutinize the staff in the City Building Review Committee and Physical Planning Department, saying that some of them profiteer from the illegal structures and instead transfer the blame to the land brokers.
On the other hand, Richard Busuli has urged the Masaka City Council authorities to work out a plan of opening up all roads and putting landmarks on gazetted service lanes to avoid any future encroachment by unsuspecting individuals who are usually conned in the search for cheap plots.
Martin Kigozi, the Masaka City Senior Physical Planner, promises that they are going to investigate the allegations raised against the technical staff, pleading with the brokers to volunteer intelligence about the real culprits.
He however indicates that the City management is going to strictly enforce the approved physical plan and the associated instructions, arguing that they are not ready to allow the growth of any more shambolic slums in the area-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
