Police needs awareness on law on noise
Jan 21, 2005
SIR— I refer to your editorial of January 18 on NEMA, titled “Back NEMA on noiseâ€.
SIR— I refer to your editorial of January 18 on NEMA, titled “Back NEMA on noiseâ€.
As I see it, unless the law enforcement officers, especially the Police, are sensitised about this law, the public will continue to suffer at the hands of the noise-makers. I had a bitter experience with the Police when I recently tried to claim my right to a quiet and peaceful environment. This was after my family and I had a sleepless night because of the noise generated by a music system from a restaurant in my neighbourhood.
I live near a restaurant — the Unique Spot Point in Ntinda in eastern Kampala — which for some time now has made life difficult for those living in the neighbourhood. The managers of the restaurant have a habit of pumping up the volume of their disco music. Despite various complaints from neighbours, no heed has been taken. I have on several occasions physically pleaded with the restaurant owner and tried to explain how the noise from their machine kept us awake every night. In one incident, I became technical and lectured on how “unwanted sound becomes noiseâ€, but this didn’t impress anybody.
And after learning about recent public announcements from NEMA, I thought our prayers were answered, at long last! But our problems are far from over. Last Sunday night, the noise was unbearable and I thought it was high time I informed the authorities about it. After failing to sleep a wink, I called the Patrol Police (999).
The phone rang for long before a husky and sleepy voice answered me. I then got a rude shock when, after giving my complaint, I was told that I was mistaken if I expected the Police to come nd “disorganise†people’s business. The officer simply wondered why I was disturbing the Police when I could report to the LC.
When I insisted that I had even read in the newspapers that the Police had recently acquired noise detecting equipment for that purpose, the officer told me to inform the President who should have a solution for my woes!
I resigned my fate to the fact that even those expected to protect my rights had no inkling about what was expected of them.
It therefore sounds as a big joke when I hear NEMA vowing to take to task noise-makers when the Police are ignorant and obtuse about the law!
Efforts should be taken to sensitise the Police and the public like bar and restaurant managers and church-goers about the law.
Justus Muhanguzi
Ntinda, Kampala
As I see it, unless the law enforcement officers, especially the Police, are sensitised about this law, the public will continue to suffer at the hands of the noise-makers. I had a bitter experience with the Police when I recently tried to claim my right to a quiet and peaceful environment. This was after my family and I had a sleepless night because of the noise generated by a music system from a restaurant in my neighbourhood.
I live near a restaurant — the Unique Spot Point in Ntinda in eastern Kampala — which for some time now has made life difficult for those living in the neighbourhood. The managers of the restaurant have a habit of pumping up the volume of their disco music. Despite various complaints from neighbours, no heed has been taken. I have on several occasions physically pleaded with the restaurant owner and tried to explain how the noise from their machine kept us awake every night. In one incident, I became technical and lectured on how “unwanted sound becomes noiseâ€, but this didn’t impress anybody.
And after learning about recent public announcements from NEMA, I thought our prayers were answered, at long last! But our problems are far from over. Last Sunday night, the noise was unbearable and I thought it was high time I informed the authorities about it. After failing to sleep a wink, I called the Patrol Police (999).
The phone rang for long before a husky and sleepy voice answered me. I then got a rude shock when, after giving my complaint, I was told that I was mistaken if I expected the Police to come nd “disorganise†people’s business. The officer simply wondered why I was disturbing the Police when I could report to the LC.
When I insisted that I had even read in the newspapers that the Police had recently acquired noise detecting equipment for that purpose, the officer told me to inform the President who should have a solution for my woes!
I resigned my fate to the fact that even those expected to protect my rights had no inkling about what was expected of them.
It therefore sounds as a big joke when I hear NEMA vowing to take to task noise-makers when the Police are ignorant and obtuse about the law!
Efforts should be taken to sensitise the Police and the public like bar and restaurant managers and church-goers about the law.
Justus Muhanguzi
Ntinda, Kampala