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FORT PORTAL - Fort Portal city authorities have introduced a shillings 50,000 and shillings 30,000 penalty for pedestrians found trespassing on the green belts and those littering the city, respectively.

City Council finance secretary Prosper Businge says the money is part of the new local revenue source.

The move to identify new sources of local revenue follows several budget cuts by the central government, according to Businge.

“As a city council, we are widening our tax base by introducing new revenue sources” Businge said on Monday.

Other new sources of local revenue include fines on loitering domestic animals in the city, noise pollution and packing on pavements. 

Fort Portal City authorities will fine whoever litters their city. (All Photos by Rogers Sunday)

Margaret Kabajwara, a youth councillor in Fort Portal on Monday told New Vision that despite the resolve by the Fort Portal authorities to green the city, nothing much has been achieved.

“Town dwellers have continued to step on the gazzated green spaces while loitering animals have also eaten up most of the beautification trees that the city had planted” Kabajwara said.

She maintained that following the mass sensitisation, it is now time to crack the whip by charging those found culpable.

Robert Bagonza, a businessman in Fort Portal, has welcomed the idea but asked the city authorities to provide enough trash bins along the streets.

“Let the city place enough garbage bins all over town so that those that fall victim to littering do not have any excuses” Bagonza said.

Anna Kabalisa, a town dweller, said it has been a shame to find animals loitering in the middle of town.

“Much as urban farming is being encouraged, people must know and appreciate the fact that we are now a tourism City and that some things must change,” Kabalisa said.