Fort Portal needs land

By Frederick Nyakabwa Population growth, an increased number of motor vehicles and the need to improve infrastructure and build recreational grounds is leading the Fort Portal Town Council to move towards reclaiming swamps, forests and river banks. Bob Kaganda, mayor of Fort Portal said this, admitting that the Council was conflicting with environment conditionally. He made the statement in his presentation as guest of honour at the Environmental awareness day, held in Fort Portal, and organised by students from Makerere University and Makerere University Business School. Kaganda added that the driving force in all these was the Council's need to collect revenue and respond to increased demand for services: “In 1975, Fort Portal had a population of 15,000 and now, in 2001, it has 67,000 people," he said. Kaganda said the Council would cooperate and support endeavours of environmentalists in regard to planting trees and keeping a clean environment. ends