State House Intervenes In Park Wrangle

By Catherine Kigozi THE State House has intervened in the wrangle between the Uganda Bus Operators Association (UBOA) and has ordered KCC to step out of the park row. The State House has also ordered that UBOA (C), the former managers, continue with administration of the park. State House in a letter dated September 12, Re: Baganda Bus Park Management Crisis, signed by the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Fox Odoi, said, “Please refer to ours PO/17 dated 16th March 1999, addressed to you. “We have received information from UBOA (C) Ltd. on the continued management wrangles at the Baganda Bus Park. “In light of our PO/17 March 1999 and above, we strongly feel that the status quo be maintained until Government departments and stakeholders concerned are consulted on the matter to avoid political interference.” It added, “For purposes of safety and security any attempts by an aggressor party to distort the status quo, must be resisted to safe-guard the interests of all citizens.” KCC had since Tuesday taken over the management of the Baganda Bus Park until the existing wrangles within administration were resolved. In a Tuesday statement, town clerk Gordon Mwesigye said, “Arising out of the persistent problems involving the management of Baganda Bus Park, Kampala City Council has cancelled the operations of UBOA (Central) Ltd, the firm that has been managing the park.” Mwesigye said KCC would run the park directly with effect from September 12. He said this would enable the council to sort out the problems with a view to calling for fresh bids to manage the park. Several up-country travelers were on Tuesday stranded at the Baganda Bus Park as a sit-down strike by members of the Associated Bus Owners Limited (ABOL) entered its second day. The chairman ABOL, Owor Amooti, also the Kibanda county MP, and his vice-chairman, Captain Gumisiriza, the Ibanda MP, yesterday met at Hotel Equatoria and urged bus owners not to pay any revenue to the park authorities. “Urge your members not to pay the sh20,000 daily fee to anybody until the matter is rectified,” they said. They said it was not proper for State House to get involved in the wrangle. “We believe KCC has the capacity to handle this matter. We also believe that it’s KCC’s responsibility to give out tenders and not State House,” Gumisiriza said. Owor was on Tuesday arrested during the strike at the bus park and later released on Police bond. Ends