By KT Reporter
Rughendaraba Town Council in Kasese District has vowed to continue demolishing all illegal structures put up in the town council.
Authorities earlier this week issued a seven-day ultimatum to vendors along the Kasese–Fort Portal highway, directing them to vacate the area as part of efforts to organize the town.
This follows a protest from some of the victims, whose structures have been demolished by authorities, citing victimization and being inconsiderate to some of the structures that have been in existence even before the creation of the town council.
The Physical Planner, Oketi Biira, says the demolitions were done in accordance with the law and after several reminders to developers to stop constructing without approved plans and non-adherence to building standards.
“So, we are encouraging them to come and get plans, and it has several benefited, a plan can help him, to get forward and demand for compensation in case there is road expansion works, two, the plan can be a security to acquire a loan in banks, three, the plan can aid the process of acquiring a land title…” She said.
She says they will not compromise with any persons whose structure in the town council was set up without building plans for their houses.
She has they have had several engagements with residents to create awareness on urban planning processes and guidelines that must be followed when one is erecting structures in the town council.
But the matter has drawn criticism from some local leaders, who question the transparency and procedures of the town council’s planning department.
68-year-old, Swalleh Muhindo, a resident of Sayuni village in Rugendabara Town Council, decried the demolition of his commercial building near the central market, accusing local authorities, especially the physical planner of the town council, of targeting his property during recent road works near the market.
The long-time trader in the area says part of his permanent commercial structure, located close to Rugendabara central market, was razed by the town council’s physical planner and her team in what he describes as an “unfair and selective” exercise.
Swalleh says he incurred heavy financial losses and is now struggling to support his family in terms of paying school fees to her children and taking care of them.
Edson Muhyana Edison, LC III chairperson-elect for Rugendabara Town Council, faulted the manner in which the authorities handle building approvals and enforcement.
He called for a review of how physical planning decisions are made and communicated, saying many residents are poorly informed about requirements and only encounter the law at the point of demolition.
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