UNRA cracks a whip on illegal billboards

Haruna Abdallah, managing a steel welding workshop, was found in procession of materials for planned erection of an illegal billboard at his workplace.

He is a resident of Kitende along the Kampala-Entebbe highway.

Although he denied knowing the owners of the materials, Abdallah was whisked off to Kajjansi Police Station to record a statement.

He had to pen how the owners of the materials got to know him and how he would assist police to track them.

Some of the materials recovered  from  an uprooted  billboard concrete foundation at  Kajjansi police station. (Credit: Samuel Balagadde)

Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) uprooted support pillars meant for billboards erected illegally in Kitende and Kitooro.

UNRA head of enforcement, John Bosco Sejjemba, said that although they suspended issuing of persmission for erection of billboards along the Kampala-Entebbe highway, some people are erecting them illegally.

They used tractors to uproot concrete supports from the ground.

Sejjemba said such supports for billboards are not only illegally put up but also compromise the safety of road users and area residents.

He said some are not fitted with enough cement and other materials.