Balaam joins Bugiri clean-up as residents decry poor garbage collection
While responding to complaints about market management, traders told the minister that some individuals own more than one stall and lock-up, denying others space. They also complained about exorbitant rent charged by self-styled landlords.
After the clean-up, Barugahara held a baraza to assess how hygiene-related services are delivered and received by residents. (Credit: Lawrence Mulondo)
BUGIRI - Local government minister Balaam Barugahara, on Saturday (September 26), joined residents of Bugiri Municipality in the national monthly general cleaning exercise.
Donning his signature checked shirt, jeans and gumboots, Barugahara led residents, learners and security personnel in cleaning trenches, roads and stalls in an exercise that started at Bugiri Central Market.
After the clean-up, Barugahara held a baraza to assess how hygiene-related services are delivered and received by residents. The meeting turned into a platform for residents to air their frustrations over poor service delivery.
Richard Kayongo, a resident of Busanzi cell in Woole ward, said efforts to clean their area had been frustrated by leaders who award themselves tenders.
“Those who get tenders to clean the town are the leaders themselves. They eat part of the money and fail to hire cleaners,” Kayongo said.
He added that the municipality has no garbage trucks and only hires them when funds are available, leaving garbage to pile up.
Donning his signature checked shirt, jeans and gumboots, Barugahara led residents, learners and security personnel in cleaning trenches, roads and stalls in an exercise that started at Bugiri Central Market. (All Photos by Lawrence Mulondo)
“Government sends money, but it is swindled, depriving residents of services,” Maiso said.
Traders in Bugiri Market also complained about delayed garbage collection. Esther Kwagala said garbage sometimes takes a month to be collected.
“We are forced to carry garbage on our heads and dispose of it at home,” she said
Sharifah Nakasolo, another trader, said they pay sh1,300 in market dues every Monday, but there is no accountability.
“We need to task the mayor and sensitise leaders on the services they are supposed to deliver,” she said.
Other residents said delayed cleaning was increasing the risk of disease and affecting productivity. They also decried the municipality's failure to construct a new market, which has forced some traders to operate along roadsides.
Minister bans landlords in govt market
Barugahara ordered that lock-ups on the roadside be charged at sh100,000 and those inside at sh80,000, with all payments made directly to a government bank account.
After the clean-up, Barugahara held a baraza to assess how hygiene-related services are delivered and received by residents. The meeting turned into a platform for residents to air their frustrations over poor service delivery.
“You should not give cash to any government official. You should present bank slips to them, then receipts are issued,” he said.
He declared that there should be no landlords in the government market and that no one should own more than one lock-up. The municipality, he said, should act as the landlord.
“There are no landlords in this market. Wherever you are working from, you own that place now because it is a government market, not for the rich. Stalls must be given out on application, not through nepotism,” Barugahara said.
He directed the resident district commissioner to enforce the directives and ensure constant checks on leaders to account for funds meant for cleaning towns.
The municipality mayor, Ayub Mukiriza, pledged to enforce the minister's directives.
The minister reminded residents that keeping the environment clean was also their responsibility to prevent diseases and remain healthy to work and develop their area.