Hundreds of Jinja city traders stranded

______________

Hundreds of traders in Jinja city are stranded after their intended relocation to alternative land was blocked over what authorities termed illegal occupation. 

The group, which claims to boost of membership of over 4,800 people comprising mostly mechanics, kiosk operators, food vendors among others, had sought permission to temporarily occupy a portion between Amber Court and Nile Agro Ways. 

The stretch is situated between the Kampala-Jinja-Busia highway and the railway line and is the property of the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC). 

Early this year, the group under the Jinja mechanics and Artisans Savings and Credit Co-operative (SACCO) started by putting up sanitary facilities in the area in preparation for the relocation. 

However, the city council protested the move saying they had neither permission from the physical planning committee nor a valid building permit, as stipulated by law. 

In a communication to URC managing director Deo Kabugo, the assistant city clerk also pointed out that the land in question had an active railway line with a train service that connects Jinja to Kampala and Kenya. 

“This puts the lives of mechanics in danger in case of any accident. The city physical development plan 2023-2033, reserved the corridor for only railway/train activities,” he said in an August 13, 2024 letter.

Kabugo added that the place’s proximity to the Magwa residential area, makes it unsafe for mechanical activities as it could cause insecurity while it could also result in traffic interference and accidents on the international highway. 

“The position of the planning authority is there should be no garages in that area and you are advised to mobilise mechanics to remove all illegal structures with immediate effect,” Kabugo said in the letter also copied to security officials in the city. 

Mechanics stranded 

The intended relocation followed a directive in 2021 by the URC to have the group leave its land they have been occupying for years. 

“The Government of Uganda has prioritised revamping of railway transport. In support of this initiative, URC has put a stop to illegal occupation, grabbing and encroachment of its land countrywide to operate safely and efficiently in line with its statutory mandate,” said a notice from the office of the managing director. 

The notice stressed that the occupants had to vacate within six months effective April 1, 2021. 

The mechanics reportedly occupied the URC land adjacent the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) tanks in Jinja southern division after plots on which 38 of their garages were located on Oboja, Spire and Kirinya roads, were sold to developers who have since put up commercial buildings.

Peter Brown Kyemba, chairman of the Jinja mechanics and artisans SACCO shows documents they wrote to URC seeking permission to occupy their land in 2022. (Photo by Charles Kakamwa)

The group chairperson Peter Brown Kyemba in an interview with New Vision Online on Thursday, August 22, 2024, wondered why the city authorities suddenly changed their minds yet an earlier stakeholders’ meeting unanimously approved their relocation to the new site. 

“We wrote to the URC in 2022, after discussions and a visit, it was agreed that we occupy the said land near Agro ways,” he said. 

Kyemba is worried that the decision might leave over 4,000 people who include mechanics in 76 garages, food vendors, welders and other service providers without a source of livelihood. 

He also added that apart from providing employment to the hitherto unemployed youth, the garages helped keep them busy something he says played a key role in reducing crime rate. 

However, he noted that their current workplace, poses a risk to the UNOC reservoirs and the newly built Eng. Zikusooka road since they are within proximity. 

“We request rbGovernment in conjunction with the city leadership to help us acquire a permanent place where we can settle and be able to work while contributing to nation building,” Kyemba, chairman of the mechanics SACCO, said. 

Mayor’s take 

Jinja mayor Peter Kasolo who commended the URC for providing working space to the people for that long, urged other stakeholders to come out and rescue them through provision of alternative land. 

"At the moment our only plan is to engage the Kyabazinga (king), to have mercy and allocate these people land even if it is outside the central business district," he said on Thursday, stressing that the remaining pieces of land in town are privately owned.

"Currently Uganda railways does not want any encroachers on their land, this is not only in Jinja but country wide because they are reviving the railway line," he said.