Wakiso residents protest mast erection

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The residents of Jjokolera Cell village, Gombe sub-county in Wakiso district have protested the erection of a telephone mast. They reasoned that its construction is bad for their health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), wireless radiation cell phone mast cause permeability of the blood-brain barrier in nerve cells and increases oxidative stress.

The rejection came after an American Tower Corporation (ATC) that operates wireless and broadcast communications infrastructures finalized plans to construct a mast in a residential area.

Florence Kyokisa, a resident of Jjokolera village said they were shocked to see a technician from ATC company taking measurements in their vicinity without their consultations for the construction of a mast.

Kyokisa was speaking after they blocked Hussein Wayita, a technician hired by ATC to carry out the works on Friday at JJokolera village, Gombe subcounty in Wakiso district.

She said, “If the company goes ahead to build the mast, they should be compensated to shift to other areas and the National Environment Management Authority Environment should be involved.

A telephone mast constructed in a residential area in Kiwatule, Wakiso district. (All Photos by Wilfred Sanya)

According to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) documents seen by the New Vision, a certificate of approval of environment and social impact assessment No.NEMA/EIA 1763 was issued by Barirega Akankwasa, the Executive Director NEMA, dated September 21, 2023.  

The Executive Director, Jokolera Conserve, Robert Matukhu, who is also a resident said the mast should not be built in residential areas.

Matukhu said a number of masts have been built forcefully in the country without people’s consent.

"Today we have so many cases of Cancer where masts have been built close to people’s homes", he revealed.

Hussein Wayita, a technician hired by ATC said in 2001, he carried out similar tasks on various sites to build the masts.

Police respond

Nathan Wambusa, Inspector Officer in Charge of Watuba police station Wakiso district, advised the community to remain calm. 

Wambusa told Wayita the technician to go through proper channels to address the matter even if he was given documents by his bosses.

Wambusa told the technician to bring in all the stakeholders on ground to meet the residents and agree on the matter.