Energetic youth vow to change the face of Kalangala Town Council

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KALANGALA — The Kalangala Town Council (KTC) has for years battled a number of issues, including poor garbage disposal, poor roads, uncertainty on settlements in Government forests, as well as greedy landlords who have to date failed to develop their land, leaving bushes within KTC.

The bushes have not only kept rats that destroy merchandise in shops but also harbour dangerous creatures such as stray dogs and snakes, which attack people in the night hours. 

This Town Council is made up of seven villages, including two landing sites of Lutoboka and Mwena. The villages are Kizzi, Kanyogoga, Kibanga, Buggala and Kalangala.

Moments after swearing-in as elders representative at Kalangala Town Council grounds. (Photo by Samuel Nkuba)

Despite holding a number of businesses, these have no roadside lights, which makes them dark at night, leaving many businesses at risk of robbers who use this chance to break through into people’s shops.

Lutoboka landing site, being an eye opener to international and national tourists who travel by MV Kalangala, is located in a forest reserve, which doesn’t support the construction of permanent structures.



Residents reside in temporary wooden/roofed houses. For one to use any land in a forest reserve, he/she must have obtained a license from the responsible authority, which residents cannot afford.

The garbage collection houses were built near people's houses and businesses, and whenever they are filled, the overflows end up in them, risking the outbreak of various diseases, including dysentery, Cholera, typhoid, and Malaria, among others.

Leader’s reactions

During the swearing-in ceremony of KTC Mayor and Councilors, Lodovic Kiberu, the mayor, noted that the issue of degazetting Lutoboka Forest reserve will be tabled before the responsible authorities so that it can be switched with other land to foster development and have permanent structures at Lutoboka landing site.

“The outgoing leaders had started on these preparations, and it’s our role now to continue and save our people from sleeping in temporary houses as well as setting up business centres where tourists can buy commodities without fear,” he says.

He further noted that they will use their offices and predecessors’ links to lobby for security lights, which will be installed at every roadside within the Town.

“The late Mayor (Kizza) had installed a few of them; however, it's our role now as energetic youth to lobby either from the Government or well-wishers so that we light up the Town and allow night businesses to commence,” he says, adding that only bars work at night yet food vendors can’t withstand the darkness.

Robert Kigozi, the outgoing speaker, noted that they had moved to impose taxes on bush and garden owners within KTC so that these funds are used to fight snakes, stray dogs and rats, which are problematic to business communities.

The sworn-in councilors vowed to move a motion aimed at changing the garbage banks and disposal centre from the Town since they are a timing bomb to the community and nearby settlements.

“The Government, through the Ministry of Works, tarmacked 5kms in the mode of low-cost seal and its our mandate to lobby for more so that all the Town roads are tarmacked,” says Richard Kiganda

Among other programs which sworn-in leaders vowed to implement include imposing reasonable taxes on every business after thorough monitoring of its state.

“We urge our technocrats in offices to stop grading away people’s stalls but rather advise them to extend from road reserves to accepted meters,” says Julian Muwonge, another councilor.

Achievements

During the five years of outgone leadership, Kalangala Town Council secured a garbage truck which was donated by Chinese friends through Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala.

The truck improved hygiene within the Town by boosting garbage collection from the filled collection centres.

Also, Eco brick came on board to add value as well as separating decomposing and non-decomposing garbage. Plastics are transported from Kalangala for recycling to make security poles and other products.

Uganda Wildlife Authority through its partnership with leaders has been annually holding a general cleaning exercise to promote hygiene of cities and towns Kalangala inclusive.

“The taxes collected annually increased from sh 70 million to sh 122 million, resulting from stabilising people’s businesses and working together as a team,” says Barbra Nambuya, the Town Clerk.

We will support you

The district Governor Agnes Lunkuse promised his fellow leaders a hand in all their planned programs in order to serve KTC residents diligently.

“We all have goals of lifting Kalangala’s candle up through selfless services, and it's my humble appeal to voters not to expect a lot but some impactful actions towards our pledges made while campaigning,” says Lunkuse.

Henry Ssebunya is the deputy resident district commissioner who implored councilors to rely on Government programs in serving islanders, since, as individuals, they can’t give out money nor construct roads.

“Put aside your political parties while serving and front all these programs aimed at improving people’s standards of living, such as the Parish Development Model,” he says.

All leaders across the seven sub-counties of the district, namely, Kalangala Town Council, Bujumba, Mugoye, Bubeke, Mazinga, Kyamuswa and Bufumira have made their oath in these two days of Thursday and Friday, assuming offices to start serving islanders in different capacities.