Neighbourhood watch: Bungalows ambush Kiteezi

Jun 08, 2019

Located 14km from Kampala’s central business district, Kiteezi, which lies about 4km off Gayaza Road in Wakiso district, is developing rapidly.

HOMES AND CONSTRUCTION

WAKISO - The only thing most people know about a suburb called Kiteezi in Wakiso district is the landfill, where all of Kampala's garbage is dumped.

It takes a 10-minute bodaboda ride from Mpererwe trading centre, off Gayaza Road, to get there.

However, the journey feels longer because of the endless potholes and speeding garbage trucks which are common on this road.

The word Kiteezi, loosely translated, means, "A place where people are ambushed".

However, Kiteezi now is more populated than one would have thought. It has beautiful homes, hardware shops, and kiosks.

Location

Located 14km from Kampala's central business district, Kiteezi, which lies about 4km off Gayaza Road in Wakiso district, is developing rapidly.

Formerly, a farming area, it is quickly turning into an urban centre, with plush homes being constructed.

Sam Kibuuka, the Chairperson of the area, says Kiteezi is a parish of about nine villages.

These are; Kaabuwoko, Kayanga, Bumbu, Kabaga, Namalel, Kizingiza, Lubatu, Bamba and Lusanja (where garbage is disposed of).

"Our area is the largest dumping ground in Kampala and this worries the residents," he says.

 usiness is booming in iteezi Business is booming in Kiteezi

 
Housing

There are self-contained houses and one-room houses available for rent, but they are few. Rent for one bedroomed house is between sh200,000 and sh300,000 per month, depending on its location.

Mark Tushabe, a property agent in the area, says Mpererwe and Lusanja are more attractive to those who want to rent because of their urban setup.

Getting land

About five years ago, a 50x100ft plot of land in Kiteezi would cost sh10m to sh15m. Currently, it costs sh35m to sh45m.

The asking price for a commercial plot starts from sh70m to sh90m if it is located within Kiteezi trading centre.

Tushabe says the land is under the private mailo system.

He adds that it is difficult to find land in some parts of Kiteezi because owners have just acquired it and are unwilling to sell. An acre is between sh150m and sh200m.

Challenges

Sylvia Babirye, a resident, who also owns a shop in Kiteezi, says the area faces severe water shortages, especially during the dry season.

In addition, she says some truck drivers dump the garbage in wrong places, yet the water does not get properly treated.

"People near the dumpsite still suffer a nauseating smell," she says.

Timothy Opio, a farmer, says people who grow bananas thought they would get better yields because they expected cheaper manure.

However, this did not happen and when the community protested, the authorities promised to generate electricity from the garbage (bio gas), which has not happened.

Kibuuka says the villages are affected by the smell, polluted water and presence of many marabou storks. "The waste is also attracting pests that have made farming difficult," he says.

Transport

Taxis to Kiteezi charge sh2,500 from the Old or New taxi parks.

However, taxis are likely to go halfway the distance, dropping one at Mpererwe on Gayaza Road at sh2000, where they can take a bodaboda for sh2,000 to Kiteezi trading centre or another taxi from Mpererwe for about sh500.

The area Chairperson warns of speeding garbage trucks, especially during the day. "Some of them have caused the death of bodaboda riders and pedestrians," he says.

 ood roads have made transport easy Good roads have made transport easy

 

Security

The community rates Kiteezi as a generally safe place. Alice Nakimuli, who has lived there for the last 10 years, says local leaders and residents have actively been involved in community policing to curb crime.

She says this has made it difficult for criminals to thrive as there is also a significant Police presence in the area.

Kiteezi in numbers

A one-bedroom self-contained house costs between sh200,000 and sh300,000 per month, depending on its location

It takes a 10-minute bodaboda ride from Mpererwe trading centre, off Gayaza Road, to get to Kiteezi.

About five years ago, a 50x100ft plot of land in Kiteezi would cost sh10m to sh15m. Currently, it costs sh35m to sh45m.

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