Entebbe chokes on garbage, minister shocked

The minister of Local Government, Tom Butime, was shocked to see heaps of garbage on the streets of Entebbe during his visit to the municipality.

The municipality is also grappling with poor drainage system as residents are forced to dump waste matter  in the drainage channels. Some of the channels have now been blocked.

New Vision was able to see a food vendor pouring dirty water into the drainage system.

According to the Mayor of Entebbe Municipality, Vincent Kayanja, garbage collection is done by a firm the municipality has hired and by the time the minister was touring the area the vehicle had not been dispatched to collect garbage.

 A garbage site next to Entebbe Municipality offices. Photo by Francis Emorut

He informed the minister that the municipality was also faced with a problem of illegal construction of houses, inadequate budget for road maintenance and street lighting as well as lack of road equipment.

The minister promised that the government will procure equipment and ensure that the roads are worked on.

Kayanja also blamed the bodabodas who carry building materials especially iron bars and roll them on tarmac hence damaging the tarmac roads which develop potholes.

He appealed to the minister to lobby for more funds so that the municipality is in position to address the gaps affecting service delivery in his jurisdiction.

 Pedestrians walk past potholes on Nakiwogo-Buwaya Road in Entebbe. Photo by  Francis Emorut

Entebbe is strategically located on Lake Victoria and has important institutions such as State House, International Airport, Uganda Virus Research Institute, UPDF airbase and Special Forces Command headquarters as well as UN Regional Service Centre, Uganda Wildlife Centre and others.

 A food vendor pours dirty water into the drainage system near the Kitooro market under construction in Entebbe Municipality on Thursday October 25, 2018. The Municipality is grappling with poor drainage system. Photo by Francis Emorut