Fights over ownership of arcades threatening the economy - UPC

The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) has asked the government to solve with urgency the wrangles surrounding the ownership of arcades in Kampala. The party insists that the wrangles were a great risk to the economy.

Addressing journalists at a weekly party press conference at Uganda House in Kampala on Wednesday, UPC national chairman, Lawrence Okae said; "the traders /tenants who are operating in some of the arcades or malls in Kampala are caught up in ownership wrangles and this risks major economic challenges."

Businesses have occasionally been paralysed in the city centre with arcades closed by landlords over ownership and rent disagreements.

Just last week, several traders were left stranded in the city centre when Manisulu Matovu alias Young locked up several of his arcades.

According to UPC, this sends negative signals to the economy. "There is a loss of income, the loss of business, loss of tax revenue and loss of investors' confidence, thus leading to the capital flight to other countries," Okae said.

"The welfare of our citizens depends on the day-to-day performance of our economy and its overall income per capita indices," he added.

UPC national chairman Lawrence Okae addressing the media at the party's headquarters in Kampala. Photo by Juliet Kasirye

The party called upon all players and institutions to act responsibly so as to avert crisis, uncertainties, restlessness and shocks to the economy over issues that could be handled amicably or much better.

UPC also warned that land evictions and other land-related disputes were also a threat to the economy.

"We urge the lands commission of inquiry to profile proposals that should cure the deficiencies involved in the land management processes in our motherland Uganda," Okae said.

He expressed concern that many incidents of violent evictions witnessed in different parts of the country such as Lusanja were an embarrassment to the country.

Okae urged the government to deeply examine land conflicts in totality in order to come up with a clear solution.

"If it is the scarcity of land for industries, let us speed up the creation of industrial parks throughout the corners of the country.

If it is conflicts or disputes of industrial nature, let the industrial courts be empowered to handle such matters expeditiously," he said.

"If it is workers cause, that is trampled on, we need to reinforce the art and spirit of functional trade unionism that seems to be in retreat and address those concerns," Okae added.