By Dismus Buregyeya

JUSTICE Jane Kiggundu has blasted the leaders of Masaka Municipal Council, saying they have messed up the town.

“This municipality looks like a dead town, the filth and potholes are disgusting. Recreation places like the Golf Course are no more. There must be something wrong with the leaders,” she said.

Kiggundu made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with the municipality and division leaders in a bid to sort out the prolonged taxi park management conflict.

Kiggundu said it was surprising that taxi operators had decided to abandon the central park and opted to load passengers on streets in the town centre.

“How do you expect the business community operating shops and hotels in the taxi park to survive when the taxis have abandoned the area? How will you collect taxes from their businesses?” she asked.

Kiggundu said the Masaka-Mbarara highway bypass had also contributed to the retarded development of the town.
“I suggest that the bypass be restricted to heavy trucks and other cars should pass via the town to boost development. The leaders should be creative to change the face of the town,” she said.

Kiggundu added that Masaka municipality needs industries to create job opportunities for the youth.

She said it was a shame that the leaders and key stakeholders were looking at the taxi park as the main source of income, adding that the leaders should follow the stipulated laws regarding the management of taxi parks.

Nyendo-Ssenyange division filed a civil suit against Masaka Municipal Council protesting the decision to hand over the division’s taxi park to BATATA Transporters Company. The division wanted to extend the contract for Equator Touring Company.

Kiggundu advised the municipal council and Nyendo division to resolve the matter out of court and report back to her on March 19.