Mbarara City Council has allocated 152 million shillings for the construction of a perimeter fence around Independence Park as part of broader plans to modernise and protect the public space. According to city authorities, the fencing project will be implemented in two phases using locally generated revenue, with each phase costing 76 million shillings.
City leaders say the move is intended to secure the park from encroachers while transforming it into a modern recreational facility. Priscah Murongo, the Deputy Mayor of Mbarara City, said the park will be upgraded to meet modern standards using revenue collected from the business community.
She revealed that the city plans to construct two mini stadiums—one targeting children and another for elderly residents—as well as install seats and plant more trees to improve the environment and beautify the park.
Meanwhile, Jomo Mugabe said the park had increasingly become vulnerable to encroachment by taxi operators and criminal elements. According to Mugabe, some taxi drivers had started turning parts of the park into a parking area, while thieves were reportedly using the space as a hideout.He noted that although the city intends to use the land for future revenue generation projects, authorities are first prioritising securing the property.
Gerrard Tukamuhebwa warned the contractor against shoddy work and delays beyond the agreed construction period. He commended city leaders for prioritising the beautification of the park, saying the project could help attract tourists and boost local revenue collection.Tukamuhebwa also said the fence would help protect the land from encroachers.
The construction contract was awarded to SM Kirimi Enterprise Limited and is expected to take three months. Officials say the fence will be built using concrete blocks standing about 3.5 feet high, topped with metal grills for added security. The park has undergone several changes in recent years.
In 2022, the city partnered with Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) to restore the park’s green cover, leading to the planting of more than 100 tree species. Earlier, in 2017, traders from Mbarara Central Market temporarily occupied the park after being relocated to pave the way for the construction of a modern market under the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP II). The traders later returned to the redeveloped market after construction was completed-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
